Peak-area measurements in electrothermal atomisation inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Abstract

A commercial inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer has been utilised in combination with an electrothermal atomisation system for sample introduction into the plasma and its operation has been modified so that transient signals from the analytes can be integrated. Good signal to background ratios were achieved by ensuring that the time interval of the analyte peak was accurately selected. This arrangement has provided results which are essentially independent of the heating rate of the electrothermal atomiser and of the length of tubing used to transport the analyte vapour to the plasma. Chemical matrix interferences, normally observed during electrothermal atomisation atomic absorption measurements and in ETA-ICP-AES when the peak height is used, are greatly reduced under peak-area measurements in the ICP.