IOSR Journal of Applied Chemistry (IOSR-JAC) e-ISSN: 2278-5736. Volume 6, Issue 4 (Nov. – Dec. 2013), PP 53-57 www.iosrjournals.org www.iosrjournals.org 53 | Page Multi-Element Determination of Cu, Mn, and Se using Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Khaled Muftah Elsherif *1 , Abdulsalam A. Benkhayal 1 , Nabil Bader 1 , and Heinz-Martin Kuss 2 1 Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Benghazi University, Libya 2 Instrumentelle Analytische Chemie, Fakultät für Chemie, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Deutschland Abstract: Simultaneous multi-element graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer (SIMAA 6000) is used to get a new multi-element determinations methodology for Cu, Mn, and Se. Firstly, the optimum conditions for single-element mode are determined (which include: pyrolysis and atomization temperatures). Secondly, the optimum conditions for multi-element mode are also determined. The conditions in the two modes have been compared in terms of the characteristic masses, detection limits and pyrolysis and atomization temperatures. The effect of the matrix on the determination has been studied using urine standard sample from Seronorm (LOT 0511545). The accuracy of the developing methods has been confirmed by analysis different biological reference materials. Simultaneous multi-element GF-AAS offers a rapid, low cost and sensitive method for the analysis of trace elements. Keywords: Simultaneous multi-element Determination, Copper, Manganese, Selenium I. Introduction One of the most instrumental techniques available for trace element determinations is Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS) due to its high specificity, selectivity and sensitivity, low detection limits, ease of operation, low sample volume and low cost. GFAAS offers also several features, especially for routine analysis. However, GFAAS has a main disadvantage from the beginning that it is a single-element technique, which means a multiplied analysis time, when more than one element has to be determined [1]. The most important requirements in analytical atomic spectrometry are the ability for simultaneous determinations in small size samples in different matrices. This ability is very important in such fields as clinical and biochemical fields where a large sample size is difficult to obtain. Number of multi-element instruments have been used for the simultaneous multi-element determination of trace metals, such as Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES), Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry and Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry (CCV) [2]. The most important one is the ICP instruments. However, the use of ICP instruments were somewhat limited by difficulty in dealing with high salt concentrations and the need for relativity large sample volumes. Also the MS detector is rather complex and expensive, which limited the widespread used of ICP-MS for routine analytical work in labs and hospitals [3]. Number of multi-element Atomic Absorption spectrometers has been developed [4, 5]. Presently, the most widely used instrument is a line source simultaneous spectrometer, equipped with transversely heated graphite atomizer, THGA with integrated platform, Zeeman Effect background corrector and solid-state detector [6-20]. However, multi-element determinations carried out by SIMAAS need the adoption of compromised conditions, which can affect the sensitivity and the precision of analytical results [21, 22]. The aim of the present work is to develop simultaneous multi-element methodology for the analysis of copper, manganese and selenium in different biological samples. II. Material And Method 1.1 Instrumentation The instrument used was a SIMAA 6000 from Perkin-Elmer GmbH, Bodenseewerk. This atomic absorption spectrometer is with a longitudinal Zeeman-effect background correction system, Echelle optical arrangement, Solid-state detector, and Standard THGA tube with pyrolytic coated integrated platform. The rate of flow of the Ar was 250 ml.min -1 . Stopped flow during the atomization was chosen. The lamps used were hollow cathode lamps (HCL) for the determination of Cu and Mn and electrodeless discharge lamp for Se from Perkin-Elmer. The sample injection volume was 20 μl. The integrated absorbance of the atomic absorption signal was used for the determination