[Sonic Hedgehog]

Hi everyone,
I've read that atomic absorption techniques such as flame atomic absorption and graphite furnace atomic absorption are unable to measure as many elements as ICP-AES or ICP-MS.  Does anyone know what elements are impossible (or very difficult) to measure using AA (but can be measured using ICP).  If you have any references I'd appreciate that too!

Cheers,
HH 

[Corribus]

Strictly speaking, this is true, but the difference isn't enormous. ICP-AES and ICP-MS has the primary advandtage over FAAS in terms of (a) detection limit (b) throughput. The ICP operates at much higher temperature than the flame, meaning ion lines are accessible by the ICP techniques, and you can also do every element at once, whereas FAAS typically is done just a handful of elements at a time.

A document that provides a good comparison between the techniques can be found here:

http://oliver.chemistry.ucsc.edu/122/Lab5%20Handout.pdf