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Cyanogen Band Suppression in Direct-Current Spectrographic Analysis

Abstract

THE violet cyanogen band sequences render the region 3500–4200 Å of the spectrum of little use for analysis due to excessive interference, yet sensitive lines of many elements fall within this range1. When carbon or graphite electrodes are used there are two methods whereby this interference may be reduced. The first makes use of the fact that band intensity is enhanced by high arc temperatures, and consequently the phenomenon of ‘selective volatilization’ is utilized, the plates being exposed only during the first part of the arc burn. In this period all the more volatile elements come off and the arc temperature is depressed. The procedure was described in detail by Ahrens and Taylor2. The second method is to prevent the emission of cyanogen bands by arcing in an inert atmosphere. The procedure described here uses this principle and is specifically designed to involve no increase in time over normal rapid spectrographic t methods.

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References

  1. Annell, C. S., and Helz, A. W., U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper 400B, No. 227 (1960).

  2. Ahrens, L. H., and Taylor, S. R., Spectrochemical Analysis, second ed., 174 (Pergamon Press, 1961).

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  3. Annell, C. S., and Helz, A. W., U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull. 1084-J (1960).

  4. Vallee, B. L., Reimer, C. B., and Loofbarrow, J. R., Opt. Soc. Amer. J., 40, 751 (1950).

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CURTIS, C. Cyanogen Band Suppression in Direct-Current Spectrographic Analysis. Nature 196, 1087–1088 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1038/1961087a0

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