Spectroscopic evaluation of a carbon dioxide and a helium-carbon dioxide microwave-induced plasma (surfatron)

Abstract

Spectroscopic diagnostics and the analytical potential of a CO₂ microwave-induced plasma produced by a surfatron structure are evaluated and compared with those of a He-CO₂ microwave-induced plasma. Operating conditions, such as pressure, power and flow-rate, are studied. The resulting spectra and the discharge configuration are described. An application to the detection of phosphorus and sulphur is given. The absolute detection limits of methyl parathion using the P I 253.56-nm line and the S II 545.39-nm line are 1.2 and 6.3 ng, respectively. A comparison is made with detection limits obtained with a flame photometric detector with supercritical fluid chromatography.