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"One should rather go horne and mesh a net than jump into the pond and dive far fishes" (Chinese proverb) Recognizing the precise analytical question and planning the analysis according ly is certainly the first prerequisite for successful trace and ultratrace determina tions. The second prerequisite is to select the method appropriate to the analyti cal specification. The method itself consists of a set of available tools. The third prerequisite is that analysts and operators know the methods weH enough to enjoy challenging themselves as weH as the methods and are rewarded by the joy of high-quality data, fast and economical results and the conviction of having the analytical job under control. This skill is known among analysts or operators working with an exciting new and sometimes complicated analytical technique but is gradually lost on ce a technique becomes "mature" and a routine tool. Unfortunately, laboratory managers often do not allow sufficient training time for their analysts and technicians for "routine" techniques and thus miss an opportunity for motivating their co-workers and obtaining the full benefit of the equipment. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) is one of the mature analytical techniques wh ich is seen as a routine method in most laboratories. More than 10,000 furnaces are operated in elemental trace and ultratrace analy ses in laboratories around the world today.

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