Fundamental studies of the applications of atomic fluorescence spectroscopy to steel analysis.

This thesis describes the adaptation of a Jarrell-Ash 82-529 atomic absorption/atomic emission spectrometer to obtain the maximum atomic fluorescence signal-to-noise ratio at the instrument readout that was possible within a relatively small budget. A detailed study of the interference effects of matrix elements on the determination of tin, arsenic and aluminium in steel is reported. The work has shown that the technique of atomic fluorescence flame spectroscopy can be successfully applied to steel analysis in the same way that flame atomic absorption can be utilised. However atomic fluorescence can be more sensitive than atomic absorption when proper attention is given to the improvement of signal-to-noise ratios.