Inductively coupled plasma Fourier transform spectrometry: a new analytical technique? potentials and problems. Plenary lecture

Abstract

The search for new methods in analytical chemistry has led to investigations at several laboratories into the feasibility of combining the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) source with a Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) to make spectrochemical measurements in the ultraviolet and visible regions by ICP-FTS. Fourier transform spectrometers have the potential of fulfilling many of the criteria of an ideal detection system for analytical atomic spectroscopy, but also have characteristic properties and limitations which must be carefully considered in the development of ICP-FTS as a practical new analytical technique. This paper presents an overview of the major potentials and problems in ICP-FTS.