Simultaneous molecular and atomic spectrometry with electrothermal atomization and diode array detection

Some papers dealing with the ultraviolet and visible study of molecular vapors produced by electrothermal atomizers were recently published. Various instruments were proposed depending on the aim of the work, from conventional flameless atomic absorption spectrometers to dedicated equipment. Recently also the infrared range has been investigated, coupling an FT-IR spectrometer with a heated graphite atomizer, thus introducing further analytical applications of this device. At the same time new techniques have been developed for simultaneous multielement determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption (GFAA) or emission spectrometry. Considering these different applications, it seems advisable to explore the capability and behavior of electrothermal atomizers in acquiring, with the same equipment, molecular and/or atomic spectra for qualitative and quantitative analysis. This work reports some results obtained by a single instrument, made up of a graphite furnace and a diode array detector, in the ultraviolet investigation of vaporization phenomena of organic and organometallic compounds. 15 references, 7 figures, 1 table.