Environmental sensors based on atomic fluorescence

Specific atomic fluorescence detectors have been designed for several elements. Interference problems are minimized by coupling these detectors to vapour generation techniques. Mercury is analysed by generating the metallic vapour coupled to a mercury specific detector. The hydride forming elements, arsenic, selenium and antimony are coupled to a flexible atomic fluorescence detector which can be tailored to each element by exchange of the lamp source (boosted discharge hollow cathode lamp). Cadmium is determined by generating the volatile diethyl compound and by using a specific atomic fluorescence detector. Performance data on all three systems are also presented.