Jena – Analytik Jena AG, a leading manufacturer of analysis measuring technology, today launched its new atomic absorption spectrometer contrAA® 600. The device complements the contrAA® product family and optimizes the advantages of high resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS AAS) specifically for the graphite furnace technique.

“With the development of the contrAA® 600 we have rounded out our contrAA® portfolio with an important product. The graphite furnace device closes the gap between the contrAA® 300 for flame and hydride technology and the contrAA® 700, which combines flame, hydride and graphite furnace technique”, said Torsten Olschewski, head of the business unit Analytical Instrumentation. “In environmental and food analysis, for example, or in clinical chemistry the graphite furnace technique in combination with HR-CS AAS is the right choice, especially for the ultra trace analysis.”

By using a special Xenon short arc lamp as continuous radiation source in combination with a high resolution Echelle spectrometer, the wavelength relevant for the atomic absorption becomes immediately available. Thanks to the combination of the two components the analysis graph and the total spectral environment can be recorded simultaneously. Additional benefits: The simultaneous background correction and significantly reduced detection limits increase the accuracy of the measured results. Using HR-CS AAS it is now also possible to analyze molecular bands and thus detect additional elements that cannot be analyzed using standard AAS technology.

In combination with the direct solid analysis technique from Analytik Jena solid samples can be processed in the graphite furnace method without extensive sample preparation. This advantage saves much time and cost for users during their daily work. When using HydrEA technology – to detect hydride-forming elements – contrAA 600 achieves the best detection limits whilst simultaneously minimizing matrix effects.

The HR-CS AAS series was developed in close cooperation with the Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften – ISAS – e.V. in Berlin. The new high quality instruments are produced at the German Analytik Jena locations Überlingen and Jena. From there the company ensures the technical and application support for the new product with its global network of partners.