DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH

Name : J Srinivasa Rao

Designation : Lecturer
Branch : D.A.E.I.E
Institute : Govt. Polytechnic, Kothagudem
Year/Semester : VI Sem
Subject : Analytical Instrumentation
Subject Code : AEI-603
Topic : Analysers
Duration : 100 Min
Sub Topic : Flamephotometer
Teaching Aids : PPT, Pictures

AEI-603.11 to 12 1
 Objectives

on completion of this period you will be able

to know about

• Flame Photometer

• Components of Flame Photometer

• Principle and Construction of Flame photometer

• Advantages & Disadvantages of flame photometer

• Applications of flame photometer

• Specifications
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 Interaction/Discussion

• Body fluid consist of sodium potasium, ions

• In the hospital chemical test carried out by certain

instrument

• Flame photometer is an important instrument to analyze

the body chemicals.

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VISUAL OF FLAME PHOTO METER

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 PRINCIPLE

• The principle of flame photometry is based on the fact

that if an atom is excited in a flame to a higher energy

level, it will emit light as it returns to its former energy

level. By measuring the amount of light emitted, the

number of atoms excited by the flame can be measured.

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 CONSTRUCTION:

A flame has three external parts

• (i) Emission system

• (ii) Optical system

• (iii) Recording system

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BLOCK DIAGRAM OF FLAME PHOTOMETER

Gases

Optical system
Atomiser

Sample

Measuring and
Detection Amplification recording
system system system

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OPTICAL DIAGRAM OF FLAME PHOTOMETER

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 EMISSION SYSTEM

Emission system consists of

• Fuel gases and regular

• Atomizer

• Burner

• Flame

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 AUTOMIZER
• It is heart of flame photometer
• Atomizer consists of a sprayer and the automation chamber
• In the atomizer chamber aerosol is produced
• Aerosol is formal breakup of large mess of liquid into small drops
• These aerosol are fed into the flame
• Atomizers are of two types:

• Internal burner and

• Spray type

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• Fuel gases and regulation: Acetylene or hydrogen or
propane is mixed with oxygen at a pressure of 12-
15lb.Sq.inch.

• Atomizer: The atomizer consists of a sprayer and the

atomization chamber, where the aerosol (breaking of
large mass of liquid into small drops) is produced and
fed into the flame.

• Burner: The burner receives the mixture of the

combustion gases and burned in the burner.

• Flame: Flame is the true source of emission.

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 Optical system

It consists of the optical system for wavelength selection

(Filters and monochromators ), lenses, diaphragms, slits
etc.

• Filters : Interference filter is used

• Monochromator : Prism is used as a monochromator

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 Recording system:

It includes detectors like

• Photocells

• photo tubes

• photo multipliers tubes

• The electronic means of amplification, measuring and

recording.

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 Working of flame photometer
• A solution of the sample to be analyzed is prepared.

• A special sprayer operated by a compressed air or

oxygen is used to introduce this solution in the form of a
fine spray (aerosol) the aerosol fuel into the flame of a
burner operating on some fuel gas like acetylene or
hydrogen.

• The radiation emitted by flame is separated by means of

light filters or a monochromator.

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 Working
• The intensity of the isolated radiation is measured from
the current it produces when it falls on a photocell.

• The measurement of current is done with the help of a

galvanometer.

• The galvanometer readings are proportional to the

concentration of element.

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 ADVANTAGES

• Preparation of the sample is easy

• Cheap and does not require expensive reagents

• Similar type of samples can be analyzed.

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 DRAWBACKS:

• Destructive technique

• The sample cannot be collected back.

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 APPLICATIONS

• For analysis of sodium and potassium in body fluids

• For analysis of alkali and alkaline materials

• For identification of rare earth elements

• For analysis of Ga, In.

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 SPECIFICATIONS:

The technical specifications of this instrument are as

follows:

• Sample requirement: 150μl with dilutor, 6μl manual.

• Response time : 22S with dilutor, 10sec manual

• Aspiration rate(50Hz): Nominally 0.58ml/min with dilutor

3.5ml/min manual (diluted sample)

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 Specifications (Contd.)

• Air supply : Flow rate approximately 12lts/min at 20psi

400cc/min at a pressure of 30psi

• Linearity: Nominally 1% on all ranges

• Dilution ratio: 1 in 100 for all determinations and for

internal standard

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 Summary

Flame Photometer consists of

• Emission system
• Optical system
• Recording system
• It is a destructive technique
• The detector used is a Flame ionization detector.

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 Quiz

1) In a Flame Photometer, the sample can be

 Reused

 Cannot be retrieved

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2) The monochromator used in Flame
photometer is
(1) Diffraction Grating
(2) Holographic Grating
(3) Prism
(4) All of the above

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3) The detector used for flame photometer is
(1) Photo multiplier tube
(2) Bolometer
(3) Golay Cell

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 Frequently asked Questions

1) Explain the principle construction and working of a flame

photometer

2) Explain the advantages and disadvantages of flame

photometer

3) List out the specifications of flame photometer.

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