Atomic Absorption (AA) Product Information

Scientific Equipment Source is a leader in the sales, service and support of atomic absorption instruments and parts. With one of the largest inventory of parts, for both older and newer models, SES can help you support your existing system or sell or lease another system to you. Either way, Techlabs has the answer to your AA needs.

We carry a wide range of AA spectrophotometers including Perkin Elmer, Varian and GBC. With a large number of options and accessories including Flame, Furnace, Hydride and auto samplers, you’ll find what you want at Techlabs. We can customize these AA’s to meet your complete requirements.Don’t forget we "lease", sell, and trade. We carry a huge "AA parts" supply as well.Scientific Equipment Source sells laboratory equipment all over the world. We have sales and service people in many countries in the world. Most of our sales are within the USA and Canada and in our local market of Toronto, Ontario and the surrounding area (Mississauga, Etobicoke, Brampton, North York, Markham, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Ajax, Pickering, Oshawa, Ottawa, Windsor, Guelph, Hamilton, Kitchener, Halton, London and Kingston.)

What is Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry?

Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) is an analytical technique used to measure a wide range of elements in materials such as metals, pottery and glass. Although it is a destructive technique (unlike ED-XRF), the sample size needed is very small (typically about 10 milligrams - i.e. one hundredth of a gram) and its removal causes little damage. The sample is accurately weighed and then dissolved, often using strong acids. The resulting solution is sprayed into the flame of the instrument and atomised (see schematic diagram). Light of a suitable wavelength for a particular element is shone through the flame, and the atoms of the sample absorb some of this light. The amount of light absorbed is proportional to the concentration of the element in the solution, and hence in the original object. Measurements are made separately for each element of interest in turn to achieve a complete analysis of an object, and thus the technique is relatively slow to use. However, it is very sensitive and it can measure trace elements down to the part per million level, as well as being able to measure elements present in minor and major amounts.