Characterization of an interface allowing either nebulization or gas chromatography as the sample introduction system in ICPMS

Abstract

An Interface which allows the coupling of a gas chromatograph with an Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometer as well as conventional solution analysis with a nebulizer/ spray chamber system has been characterized. In the

Ultrasonic nebulization with an infrared heated pre-evaporation tube for sample introduction in ICP-OES: application to geological and environmental samples

“…Similarly, when a PET was inserted between the spray chamber and the torch in ICP-MS, the improvement in DL was greater than in sensitivity for most of the elements. 22,23 This is in contrast to what is often reported with other sample introduction systems, where a larger improvement in sensitivity than in DL is achieved through an increase in sample introduction efficiency. 32 In Tables 4 and 5, one emission line, either atomic or ionic, was used for most of the analytes.…”

“…Indeed, adding hydrogen to the carrier gas of a USN, 18,20 or combining the aerosol from the USN to the hydrides from a multimode sample introduction system, 21 was found to improve plasma robustness. That is why inserting a pre-evaporation tube (PET) wrapped with heating tape (HT) between the spray chamber and the torch, to pre-vaporize aerosol droplets without removing water, improved the DL for multi-elemental analysis by ICP-MS. 22,23 Its use slightly increased the sample introduction efficiency through indirect heating of the spray chamber and thus resulted in only a small improvement in sensitivity. On the other hand, a much greater improvement in DL was achieved through a reduction in noise induced by large droplets, whose total number decreased.…”

Trace Metal Speciation with ICP‐MS Detection

“…182,183 An interesting approach was realized in the early 1990s by Peters and Beauchemin. 184,185 They developed a GC interface to an Elan 500 ICP-MS, which enabled switching from standard aerosol introduction to GC introduction by just turning a valve. The interface was constructed to stay in place for all applications, which greatly reduced the time for changing from standard to GC operations.…”

Improvement of analytical performance in inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry without compromising robustness using an infrared-heated sample introduction system with a pneumatic nebulizer

“…19,20 All of these factors make the analysis of environmental/geological samples (complex matrices) with USN systems quite difficult. [21][22][23] On the other hand, the sample aerosol can be vaporized, without removing water, by inserting a heated ($400 C) preevaporation tube (PET) between the spray chamber and the torch, leading to improvements in both sensitivity and detection limit in ICP-MS. [24][25][26] For most of the analytes, the improvement in detection limit surpasses that seen for sensitivity, which would suggest a reduction in noise arising from droplet desolvation, as it decreases the average size of sample aerosol droplets entering the plasma. 24,26 Similarly, replacing the whole desolvation system of USN-HC-MD with a PET improved sensitivity, detection limit and plasma robustness in ICP OES.…”

“…[21][22][23] On the other hand, the sample aerosol can be vaporized, without removing water, by inserting a heated ($400 C) preevaporation tube (PET) between the spray chamber and the torch, leading to improvements in both sensitivity and detection limit in ICP-MS. [24][25][26] For most of the analytes, the improvement in detection limit surpasses that seen for sensitivity, which would suggest a reduction in noise arising from droplet desolvation, as it decreases the average size of sample aerosol droplets entering the plasma. 24,26 Similarly, replacing the whole desolvation system of USN-HC-MD with a PET improved sensitivity, detection limit and plasma robustness in ICP OES. 2,27 The signicant improvements were attributed to the water vapor that was preserved by the PET, 27 in contrast to introducing water aerosol, which greatly increases the background noise level and decreases both the ionization temperature and the electron number density of the ICP.…”