Atomic Emission Spectroscopy

Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (AES) can be described as a spectroanalytical procedure that detects the quantity of elements in a sample by utilizing the intensity of light at a constant wavelength emitted from a sample that consists of free atoms – e.g. flame, plasma, arc, spark, etc. The method of sample preparation distinguishes two main techniques of AES: Flame AES and Inductively Coupled Plasma AES. Despite its relative complexity over traditional absorption spectroscopy, AES offers a significant advantage over the former with its ability to analyse multiple chemical elements simultaneously, having lower thresholds of detection and not suffering of interferences thanks to narrow spectral lines of atomic emission.