A Versatile, Digital Sequencer for Programmed Electrical Heating of Nonflame Atomizers

ABSTRACT A simple, inexpensive, yet flexible digital sequencer is described for the programming of electrically heated nonflame atomizers. The system provides four distinct periods of operation and a three step analog output for controlling the atomizer heating during desolvation, ashing and atomization. The sequencer is sufficiently versatile to allow it to be used with any nonflame atomizer with only minor modifications. Performance tests of the sequencer with the graphite braid nonflame atomizer are presented and illustrate that results comparable to those obtained with a laboratory minicomputer can be readily achieved.