Agilent 240FS AA#
This familiarization module will focus on flame operation of the instrument. The Agilent 240FS is capable of operating in flame or furnace mode. The furnace module is much more sensitive.
Flame atomic absorption is a very common technique for detecting metals and metalloids in environmental samples. It is very reliable and simple to use. With the Flame AA, the sample atomization occurs when a liquid sample is drawn into a flame.
Procedure#
Make sure the power is on to the AA. The furnace portion (the module on the left) can remain off.
Open the SpectrAA software.
Click Worksheet.
Click New from…
Select Pb demo and give it a new name that I can easily find and delete later.
Click Start on the left of the screen.
The instrument will tell you to ignite the flame. Hold down the flame button on the AA until it ignites.
Insert the tubing into the beaker labeled “DI Water” and run the zero.
Swap the tubing for the appropriate standards (1 = 1 ppm, 2 = 3 ppm, 3 = 5 ppm) as prompted by the computer. Click “Read” when ready to read the standard.
Warning
Ensure the tubing remains secured in the sample for the entire run. You will need to repeat the run if the tubing drops out of the beaker during the analysis.
Make sure to watch the flame for this one! “Present” (as in put the tube in the Erlenmeyer flask) the Pb paint sample.
Once the run is complete, the flame with automatically shut off. Enjoy the pleasant music from the PC indicating that the run is complete.
Close the software and turn off the instrument when you are finished with the questions below.
Questions#
What was the flame used?
What was the flow rate for the gases used in the flame?
What is the concentration of Pb in the paint sample?
Was your calibration curve linear? If so, what was the slope? If not, is it still OK to use your calibration curve? Why?