Atomic Absorption Spectrometry from Jena

Already in 1792, Pierre Bouger observed the phenomenon of light absorption. In 1860, Kirchhoff and Bunsen interpreted the Fraunhofer lines as absorption lines. However, it was not before the fifties of the last century, that atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was devised and developed as optical analysis method.

In 1952, Alan Walsh showed that the principle of atomic absorption could also be realized practically. In 1955, Walsh, Alkermade and Milatz independently published results proposing AAS as quantitative analysis method. Unflaggingly fighting against resistance and indifference, Walsh succeeded in developing and harmonizing he theoretical principles, the practical applications and the instrumental principles.In Jena, the idea of AAS was taken up by Carl Zeiss Jena. The  figure AAS lab setup shows the first functioning Zeiss Jena interpretation of the AAS idea: the AAS prototype of 1961.

Prototyp AAS 1 –
Erstes Carl-Zeiss Messinstrument, mit welchem AAS als quantitative Analysenmethode möglich wurde

Finally, when suitable line sources, the hollow cathode lamps (HCL), became available at the end of the sixties, the first prototype of a Thuringian AAS instrument was built, the AAS 1. This instrument allowed flame-photometric analyses of 30 elements in emission and absorption in the mg/l range by means of acetylene and propane fuel gas. Typical for the pre-PC era were the manual parameter adjustment, calibration curve setup, reading and concentration determination.

The distinctly hotter nitrous-oxide flame used on the AAS 1 N successor model provided an extension of the analysis range to more than 60 elements.

In 1982, the next instrument generation, AAS 3, pushed open the door to the computer age. Beside the convenience in device control and data analysis provided by the integrated microcomputer, the new features included hydride technique and electrothermal atomization in the graphite furnace, which in combination with deuterium background correction made ultratrace level analyses accessible. More than 2,500 devices of this type were delivered from Jena and many of them are still running and running....

Following the first PC-controlled AAS 4 (1989) with softkeys, cookbook and temperature recalibration, the AAS 5 series instruments from Carl Zeiss Jena meant a quantum leap in development as exemplified by the transversal heating of the graphite furnace - surely one of the most significant discoveries for AAS.

In December 1995, Analytik Jena acquired the Analytical Systems section with production, R&D, design and service units from Carl Zeiss Jena to continue the Jena  tradition  in this field.