Developments and trends in plasma spectrochemistry—a view. Plenary lecture

Abstract

A review of the history of spectrochemistry over the past 40 years is taken as a starting-point for presenting a personal view on recent developments and current trends in plasma spectrochemistry. Booms and trends, featured in graphical form, are introductorily discussed. In that context, an iconographic approach for the visualization of ratings of analysis methods is proposed. The main body of the discussion deals with assessments of the present position and future perspectives of furnace atomization plasma emission spectrometry, plasma source mass spectrometry, plasma source emission spectrometry, and, as a perhaps curious intruder and possibly serious competitor, total-reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The potentials of recently introduced échelle array spectrometers for plasma source emission spectrometry are considered in the light of new or improved insights into the spectroscopic methodology and in the scope of input from developments in chemometrics. The paper is concluded with a brief review of the plasma spectrochemistry conferences in the past 18 years and their role for communication.