Atoomemissiespectrometrie

Atoomemissiespectrometrie, often abbreviated as AES, is an analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of a sample. It relies on the principle that atoms, when excited, emit light at specific wavelengths characteristic of each element. The process begins with introducing a sample into a high-energy environment, typically a plasma or a flame. This energy excites the atoms within the sample, causing their electrons to jump to higher energy levels. As these electrons return to their ground state, they release energy in the form of photons, which are light particles. Each element has a unique set of energy levels, resulting in a unique pattern of emitted wavelengths. The emitted light is then passed through a spectrometer, which separates the light into its constituent wavelengths. A detector measures the intensity of light at each wavelength. The wavelengths present indicate which elements are in the sample, and the intensity of the light at each wavelength is proportional to the concentration of that element. Common excitation sources include inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES) and direct current plasma (DC-AES), as well as flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), although FAAS is technically absorption rather than emission. AES is a sensitive and versatile technique employed in various fields, including environmental monitoring, food analysis, and materials science.