Mechanism of Action of a Palladium Modifier on Atomization Processes

We have demonstrated a desorption mechanism for dissipation of palladium from a palladium modifier in a graphite furnace during sample atomization. We have carried out mathematical modeling with the aim of obtaining the most important kinetic parameters of the atomization processes: diffusion rate and energy of formation of free atoms. The energy of formation of free silver atoms in the presence of palladium, calculated from the shape of the signals, increases from 118.5 ± 6.3 to 199.5 ± 8.4 kJ/mol, while the activation energy for diffusion of silver in the graphite of the furnace walls increases from 75.6 ± 1.1 to 135.2 ± 6.0 kJ/mol, which suggests direct chemical reaction between palladium and silver.