Portable photochemical vapor generation-microwave plasma optical emission spectrometer

Abstract

A low power microwave plasma torch as an excitation source was combined with a photochemical vapor generator (PVG) and a miniaturized charge-coupled device to construct a portable optical emission spectrometer. The PVG facilitates sampling of liquid samples without a desolvation system and avoids extinguishing the plasma. At a radio frequency power of 150 W, for example, limits of detection between 1 and 50 ng mL⁻¹ were achieved for Ni, Hg, Fe and Se. Therefore, it could be a promising technique for field analytical chemistry in areas such as environmental analysis or fast screening analysis.