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A multichannel atomic absorption spectrometer has been designed and constructed which combines the advantages of simultaneous analysis offered by emission spectroscopy with the increased sensitivity and rapid analysis of atomic absorption instruments. The source is a multielement hollow cathode tube and employs a long pathlength absorption cell previously shown to increase the sensitivity of detection of several elements by atomic absorption. A concave grating isolates monochromatic radiation from the emission of the hollow cathode tube and focuses it on the photomultipliers placed at exit slits placed at the focal plane on a Rowland circle. The method presented demonstrates the utility of the instrument and permits simultaneous analysis of zinc, copper, and cadmium. Three-quarter saturated oxine serves as a chelating agent to obviate interferences due to extraneous anions and cations. The method is suitable for the analysis of these metals in biologic fluids, as exemplified by the analysis of human serum and equine renal and human hepatic metallothioneins.

The purine and pyrimidine bases of E. gracilis have been separated using a high-pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC). Each base was unambiguously identified by its characteristic elution profile and UV absorption spectrum. This method allows for the study of the base composition of mRNAs altered by pathological processes, exemplified here by the analysis and comparison of mRNAs from zinc sufficient and deficient organisms.