title: Molecular absorption spectrometry in flames and furnaces: a review.
abstract: Molecular absorption spectrometry (MAS), originally developed in the 1970s, is a technique to determine non-metals in flames and graphite furnaces by monitoring the absorbance of diatomic molecules. Early studies employed low resolution instruments designed for line source atomic absorption, which provided a limited choice of analytical wavelengths, insufficient spectral resolution, and spectral interferences. However, the development of high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS AAS) instrumentation has allowed the analysis of challenging samples for non-metals as well as some difficult elements to determine by AAS, such as aluminum and phosphorus. In this review, theory and analytical considerations for MAS are discussed. The principles and limitations of low resolution MAS are described, along with its applications. HR-CS AAS instrumentation is reviewed, emphasizing performance characteristics most relevant for MAS. Applications of flame and HR-CS GFMAS are reviewed, highlighting the most significant work to date. The paper concludes with an evaluation of the enhanced analytical capabilities provided by HR-CS MAS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Physics, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723, United States. Electronic address: butcher@email.wcu.edu.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Butcher
keywords: AAS; Atomic absorption spectrometry; CRM; ESI-MS; Flame; GC; GF; GF AAS; GF MAS; Graphite furnace; HCL; HPLC; HR-CS; High-resolution continuum source; ISE; LOD; MAS; Molecular absorption spectrometry; RSD; atomic absorption spectrometry; certified reference material; electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry; gas chromatography; graphite furnace; graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry; graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry; high performance liquid chromatography; high-resolution continuum source; hollow cathode lamp; ion selective electrode; limit of detection; molecular absorption spectrometry; relative standard deviation