Electrothermal vaporization for sample introduction in microwave-induced plasma atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

An electrothermal vaporization device has been designed for use in sample introduction and this has been coupled with microwave-induced plasma atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-MIP-AAS). Various vaporization chambers were tested to minimize the turbulence and the dead volume. A series of experimental parameters were examined and optimized. Some influences, such as concomitant element and easily ionized element (EIE) effects, which are commonly encountered in microwave-induced plasma atomic emission spectrometry were investigated. The analytical figures of merit for ET-MIP-AAS are discussed. The characteristic concentrations obtained in this work were found to be at the ng ml^–1 or higher level. The precision for the determination of Ca, Ag and Cu was shown to be in the range 5.6–7.8%. The recommended method was also used to analyse real samples, and satisfactory results were obtained.