Evaluation of three low-volume interfaces for organic solvent introduction to the inductively coupled plasma—applications to flow injection

Abstract

The low-volume interfaces for volatile organic solvent introduction into the inductively coupled plasma are evaluated. The cooled mini-spray chamber and the desolvation interface minimise solvent vapour transport to the plasma by condensation in the spray chamber, whereas the partial-suction injector removes excess of solvent vapour by utilising the difference in momentum between the aerosol droplets and the solvent vapour in the argon carrier gas. Continuous solution nebulisation detection limits are in the mid- to sub-ng ml^–1 range. Flow injection peak widths using the low-volume interfaces were narrower than the peak widths obtained using spray chambers with larger volumes. Peak widths for a 50-µl injection of analyte at a solution delivery rate of 1.0 ml min^–1 were ca. 10–15 s.