Applications of AES:

Emission spectroscopy is widely used for qualitative as well as quantitative analysis because of high sensitivity and the possible simultaneous excitation of many elements, notably metals and metalloids. AES is especially suitable for rapid survey analysis of the elemental contents in small samples at level of 10µ g/g or less. It is necessary to construct an analytical curve with known standards. Often the ratio of analyte emission intensity to the emission intensity of a second element contained in, or added to the sample is used. That internal standard method improves the precision of analysis.

ICP-AES is used widely for determining trace metals in environmental samples such as drinking water and industrial waste water, ground water supplies and so also for determining trace metals in petroleum products, biological materials, foodstuffs geological samples and industrial quality control. The simultaneous multielemental determinations make it possible to form correlations and to reach conclusions that are impossible with single element determinations. The excellent sensitivit y and wide working range for many elements together with the low level of interferences make ICP-AES a nearly ideal method. Let us learn about some typical analytical determinations in different areas using AES.