Optical emission spectrometry with an inductively coupled radiofrequency argon plasma source and direct sample introduction from a graphite rod

Abstract

Preliminary studies of analytical performance are described for an instrumental assembly in which microlitre volumes of liquid samples are applied to a graphite rod, desolvated and the rod is inserted axially directly into a continuously operating low-power inductively coupled argon plasma. Simplex optimisation of operating parameters has been undertaken for manganese to determine the most favourable signal to background intensity ratios and detection limits are reported for manganese, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, nickel and lead.