Issue 2, 2012

Plasma pencil as an excitation source for atomic emission spectrometry

Abstract

A 13.56 MHz plasma jet discharge, called a plasma pencil, was investigated. Rotational and excitation temperatures, and electron number densities for the pencil under and without sample load were calculated using OH band spectra, Ar lines and Hβ line, respectively. The rotational temperatures were found to be relatively low at about 800 K, however, excitation temperatures exceeded 4000 K. The plasma was found to be strongly non-isothermal. Some atomic lines of elements were easily observed. Aqueous solution-based aerosols were incorporated into the plasma without desolvation. Standard water solutions of the elements were nebulized into the plasma. The Ar carrier gas and Ar plasma gas flow rates were 0.3 and 4.0 l min−1, respectively. The forwarded power was 140 W. Intensities of the atomic lines, temperatures and electron number densities along the discharge tube were acquired in different positions from the aerosol entrance and an optimal position providing the best signal-to-noise ratio for each line intensity was established. Calibration dependencies for Ca, Cu, Mg, Zn, Li, Na were measured in the rage of 1–100 mg l−1. 3-sigma detection limits in the best observation axial position were (μg l−1): 27 (Ca), 49 (Cu), 58 (Mg), 40 (Li), 13 (Na) and 180 (Zn).

Graphical abstract: Plasma pencil as an excitation source for atomic emission spectrometry

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Sep 2011
Accepted
16 Nov 2011
First published
19 Dec 2011

J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2012,27, 305-309

Plasma pencil as an excitation source for atomic emission spectrometry

L. Novosád, A. Hrdlička, P. Slavíček, V. Otruba and V. Kanický, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2012, 27, 305 DOI: 10.1039/C1JA10278H

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements