Taking a deeper look into the roles of amines in atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

Like many other organic ligands, amine-based complexing agents in analytical chemistry have demonstrated substantial improvements in sensitivity and selectivity in determining metals by flame-atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and electrothermal atomisation atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). Amines represent a particular case for diverse potential complexing agents owing to the lone pair electrons in the nitrogen atom being capable of forming dative covalent bonds. Amines can analytically generate useful pH-dependent green switchable solvents. In this context, this work aims to critically review the diverse uses of amines in the FAAS/ETAAS fields in a comprehensive manner by mainly focusing on their effects on the atomisation processes, their behaviour as complexing agents and their possible direct and indirect determination by the AAS techniques. Various theoretical topics related to the solvent extraction processes involving amines also enhance the usefulness of this kind of compound for the AAS techniques. Further, extrapolating their usefulness in combination with other analytical techniques is straightforward.