Effect of solution introduction rate on the performance of nebulisers in inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Abstract

A Hildebrand grid, and ultrasonic and a Babington-type nebuliser were compared by varying the sample uptake rate and measuring several parameters: relative response, precision, detection limit and wash-in and wash-out times. It was found that the sample introduction rate could be reduced 20-fold (4.5 to 0.21 ml min^–1) with relative response falling by less than a factor of three for the Hildebrand and ultrasonic nebulisers, whereas the Babington-type experienced loss of half the optimum relative response at 1.1 ml min^–1. Wash-in time was only slightly increased, but wash-out times were much longer at lower flow-rates. The latter problem could be overcome by using a higher rinse rate than sampling rate.