Low pressure inductively coupled plasma source for mass spectrometry

Abstract

The generation of a low pressure Ar inductively coupled plasma has been successfully performed without any modification to the torch box of a commercial inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. A water-cooled, low pressure torch and interface, designed to allow sampling for mass spectrometry, are described. Using gas chromatography sample introduction, it was possible to measure the analytical signal for a sample of 1-bromononane. The background spectrum contained many of the polyatomic ions seen for atomospheric plasmas, thought to be due to small leaks in the vacuum seals.