Effects of ammonium nitrate on sensitivity for determinations of copper, iron, and manganese in sea water by atomic absorption spectrometry with pyrolytically coated graphite tubes

Ammonium nitrate, used as a matrix modifier in sea-water analysis to eliminate the interference of sodium chloride, degrades the pyrolytic coating on graphite-furnace tubes. The initially increased sensitivities for copper, manganese and iron are maintained for up to 15 atomizations; there is then a rapid decline to a constant lower sensitivity. The characteristics depend strongly on the particular lot of furnace tubes. To decrease the NaCl interference without using matrix modifier, estuarine samples must be diluted (1 + 1) with pure water. Blanks and standards are prepared and diluted with Gulf Stream water containing low amounts of trace metals to match the estuarine matrix.