Analysis of ceramic, geological and related refractory materials by slurry injection mixed gas inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Abstract

An inductively coupled plasma using mixtures of Ar-Ar, Ar-O₂ or Ar-N₂ is examined for the spectrometric determination of major elements in slurries of metals, metal oxides, metal carbides and coals. Slurries of 1.00% m/v composition are introduced into the plasma using a Babington-type nebuliser. Gas mixtures tested are 5% O₂ in Ar, 10% N₂ in Ar and pure Ar. Samples are standard reference materials. Of the mixed gas plasmas studied, the Ar-O₂ plasma exhibited the highest analytical sensitivity. Emission profiles, working curves and limits of detection are reported.