Interference due to changes in the
volatilization rate of the dry
aerosol particles in the case when
volatilization of the analyte is incomplete in the presence and/or absence of the concomitant. This
interference can either be specific, if the analyte and interferent form a new phase
of different thermostability, as when
Mg and
Al form
MgAl2O4
in an air–acetylene flame, or non-specific, if the analyte is simply dispersed in
a large excess of the interferent, as when
Ag is dispersed in
ThO2.
If the interferent has a high boiling point, this latter is sometimes referred to
as a blocking interference. It is often difficult to make sharp distinctions between
the specific and non-specific solute-
volatilization interferences.
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