Assessment of the effects of source noise in inductively coupled plasma Fourier transform spectrometry

Abstract

Multiplicative noise arising from the nebulisation process in inductively coupled plasma Fourier transform spectrometry (ICP-FTS) is shown to degrade the signal to noise ratio in Fourier transform spectra. The effect of concommitant elements which result in either a single strong line (Mg) or several weak lines (Fe) is studied for the determination of Mn in a spectral band pass of 240–300 nm. The effect of uranium on the determination of Fe is also studied. The concentration dependence of detection limits in ICP-FTS is demonstrated and the effects of increasing resolution on the observed signal to noise ratios is discussed.