Development and use of an acoustooptic background correction system for atomic emission spectroscopy

This project involves the development and use of an acousto-optic background correction system for atomic emission spectroscopy. Preliminary development was done with a flint glass acousto-optic device mounted in a Rowland circle polychromator. This background correction system was characterized using a hydrogen lamp as a radiation source for acousto-optic diffraction with acousto-optic background correction. The system was then characterized using a microwave-induced plasma as a radiation source using fast acousto-optic background correction in the analysis of hydrogen gas.;The acousto-optic device was then mounted in a 0.5 m scanning monochromator, where this background correction system was characterized for acousto-optic diffraction. Also, background-corrected atomic emission spectroscopy was accomplished using a microwave-induced plasma as a radiation source. An ultrasonic nebulizer was used for sample introduction in the analysis of sodium and scandium solutions. The background correction system was then used with an electrothermal vaporization apparatus for analyte introduction into the microwave-induced plasma in the analysis of sodium, scandium and chromium solutions.