Developments in Chromium Emission Spectroscopy with a Tungsten Coil Atomizer
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Chemistry, Physics, Geology, & the Environment
Faculty Mentor
Cliff Calloway, Ph.D.
Abstract
Tungsten coil atomic emission spectrophotometry (WCAES) is a dependable way to visualize chromium emission. The WCAES spectrophotometer is smaller than commercial inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometers (ICP-OES). The WCAES system uses a commercially available tungsten bulb as the emission source, interfaced to a programmable, constant-current power supply, and Ocean Optics CCD spectrophotometer to detect emission signals. The WCAES requires less power, no water-cooling and much less argon gas than commercial ICP-OES. Incorporating a smaller aluminum housing for the atomizer and modifying the WCoil control software to allow multi-step temperature ramping and automated solvent removal provides more precise control over the atomizer temperature than any other commercially available atomizer. The added control over temperature allows the WCAES to thermally separate metals for emission measurements. Chromium(III) and chromium(VI) provide a unique test case for the improved capabilities. Chromium(VI) is regarded as a highly toxic form of chromium compared to chromium(III). Using the thermal ramping and temperature control of the WCAES system provides a low-cost alternative to conventional methods using ion chromatography interfaced to ICP-OES.
Start Date
24-4-2015 4:05 PM
Developments in Chromium Emission Spectroscopy with a Tungsten Coil Atomizer
DiGiorgio Campus Center, Room 221
Tungsten coil atomic emission spectrophotometry (WCAES) is a dependable way to visualize chromium emission. The WCAES spectrophotometer is smaller than commercial inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometers (ICP-OES). The WCAES system uses a commercially available tungsten bulb as the emission source, interfaced to a programmable, constant-current power supply, and Ocean Optics CCD spectrophotometer to detect emission signals. The WCAES requires less power, no water-cooling and much less argon gas than commercial ICP-OES. Incorporating a smaller aluminum housing for the atomizer and modifying the WCoil control software to allow multi-step temperature ramping and automated solvent removal provides more precise control over the atomizer temperature than any other commercially available atomizer. The added control over temperature allows the WCAES to thermally separate metals for emission measurements. Chromium(III) and chromium(VI) provide a unique test case for the improved capabilities. Chromium(VI) is regarded as a highly toxic form of chromium compared to chromium(III). Using the thermal ramping and temperature control of the WCAES system provides a low-cost alternative to conventional methods using ion chromatography interfaced to ICP-OES.
