Thermospray sample introduction into a horizontal low-flow inductively coupled plasma with end-on observation

Abstract

Thermospray sample introduction into a horizontal water-cooled low-flow inductively coupled plasma (ICP), with end-on observation, has been used successfully to improve detection limits four-fold, relative to sample introduction with a V-groove nebuliser in the sample plasma. This improvement in the detection limits has been observed for 17 elements and is in agreement with the results reported in the literature for the thermospray sample introduction into a conventional high-flow ICP. The linearity of the analytical graphs is 4–5 orders of magnitude, i.e., similar to nebuliser sample introduction. Interferences are not as low as would have been expected for end-on observation of the horizontal water-cooled low-flow plasma, nevertheless they are not inferior to a conventional ICP.