Elemental analysis of micro-samples of liquids or slurries by coiled-filament in-torch vaporization-inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ITV-ICP-AES)

Abstract

In coiled-filament in-torch vaporization (ITV) sample introduction for inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), a sample is placed onto a coiled filament (e.g., a Re wire) and the sample carrying filament is inserted into a vaporization chamber which is attached to an ICP torch. In this study, six vaporization chambers were tested using in-situ generated smoke. Of these, a 6.5 cm³ (internal volume) chamber was chosen. An Ar-H₂ (≈3% v/v) carrier gas was used and the effect of flow rate and filament insertion position was determined for several elements (e.g., Zn, Pb, Cd, Mn, Mg, V, Be and Sr) that covered a range of wavelengths and vaporization characteristics. Analytical performance characteristics were also obtained and calibration graphs were linear over several orders of magnitude. Detection limits were in the pg to sub-pg range. Coiled-filament ITV-ICP-AES was also briefly tested with powdered solids as slurries using a biological standard reference material and Mn and Zn as test elements.

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