LEAD HYDRIDE GENERATION ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY - AN ALTERNATIVE TO ELECTROTHERMAL ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY

Historical, theoretical and practical aspects of lead hydride generation and its application to spectrochemical analysis, especially atomic absorption spectrometry, are reviewed. Lead hydride generation conditions (particularly the need to use oxidizing agents), possible generation and atomization mechanisms and interferences are described and discussed in detail. The main applications of lead hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry to the determination of lead in a wide variety of matrices and its advantages over graphite furnace atomic adsorption spectrometry in the determination of low levels of lead are addressed.