Use of a thermospray nebuliser as a sample introduction system for inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Abstract

A thermospray nebuliser has been used for sample introduction into the ICP and the experimental set-up of the system is described in this paper. The operating conditions of the thermospray nebuliser have been optimised to obtain the lowest detection limits. The following features were studied: sensitivity, short- and long-term stability, detection limits for 14 elements and matrix effects on eight elements caused by 1 g l^–1 NaCl. In all instances, a comparison was made between the thermospray nebuliser and a pneumatic nebuliser. Finally, the mass transport efficiency of both nebuliser systems was measured for four elements using direct aerosol trapping.