Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) is a laboratory analytical technique that determines the concentration of metals in a sample by measuring the amount of light absorbed by the sample at a specific wavelength. AAS is a widely used technique for detecting and quantifying trace elements in various types of samples, such as soil, water, food, and biological fluids.
The AAS instrument consists of a light source that emits radiation of a specific wavelength, a sample holder that contains the sample, and a detector that measures the amount of light absorbed by the sample. A hollow cathode lamp is commonly used as the light source in AAS, which emits light at the specific wavelength of the element of interest.
To perform an AAS analysis, the sample is introduced into the sample holder, and a beam of light at the specific wavelength is passed through the sample. The detector measures the amount of light absorbed by the sample, which is proportional to the concentration of the metal in the sample.
AAS has many advantages, including its high sensitivity, accuracy, and precision. It can detect trace levels of metals in samples at parts per million (ppm) or parts per billion (ppb) levels. AAS is widely used in environmental, clinical, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications, such as in the analysis of heavy metals in water, the determination of lead in blood, and the analysis of trace elements in food and beverages.