Sapphire was tested as a new material for volatile species atomizers. Bismuthine was chosen as a convenient model for volatile species. The fundamental approach adopted was to compare the performance of a sapphire-based atomizer with a quartz atomizer in both modes of operation (on-line atomization versus in situ collection) under equal experimental conditions including design and size of both atomizers. Only the temperature range compatible with the quartz atomizers (up to 1000 C) was investigated. The employment of the modular atomizer design made it possible to comply with the principal requirement of the same design and size of both atomizers: both the atomizers differed only in the material of the exchangeable optical tube (a plain tube with a central orifice). No significant difference between quartz and sapphire regarding atomization as well as in situ collection was found and virtually the same analytical characteristics were achieved. Excess of O 2 over H 2 was employed for efficient trapping and efficient and very fast volatilization was achieved by means of auxiliary H 2 . Under optimized conditions the collection efficiencies of 97 AE 3% and 94 AE 4% were achieved for the sapphire and quartz tube, respectively, and the limits of detection of around 30 pg ml À1 were achieved for 1 ml sample volume. The advantages and future prospects of the use of the sapphire tube are highlighted and discussed.