Atomization of cadmium compounds under reactive and inert high-temperature environment with stationary sample introduction.

Atomization of cadmium compounds (acetate, chloride, nitrate, perchlorate, sulfate, formate, propionate) was studied using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Our goal was to study processes influencing atomization separately, the focus was on the contribution of thermal properties of substances to atomization. For this purpose new techniques and equipment have been developed, such as a special separated three-slot burner, quartz flame furnace, and an electrically heated thermospectrometer. According to quartz flame furnace and thermospectrometric measurements, cadmium salts do not atomize below 600 °C in an inert atmosphere. We found that in the thermospectrometer the atomization of cadmium compounds follows at least two different reaction courses. At lower temperatures (650-700 °C) a slower mechanism is dominant at higher regions of the furnace, while at 800 °C a faster mechanism demanding less residence time in the furnace becomes dominant. Under inert atmosphere the degree of atomization strongly depends on the thermal properties of substances.