SPECIATION OF CHROMIUM USING THERMOSPRAY NEBULIZATION AS SAMPLE INTRODUCTION INTO INDUCTIVELY-COUPLED PLASMA-MASS SPECTROMETRY

A thermospray source was investigated as an interface between liquid c hromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Severa l parameters were optimized including the r.f. power of the plasma, li quid and gas heater voltages, temperature of the spray chamber and pos ition of the capillary. Optimum conditions were used to demonstrate th e interface for the speciation of chromium(III) and -(VI) using an ani on exchange column. Detection limits for a few other elements were als o determined using this interface and the results obtained from the st andard reference material NBS SRM-1643c were in close agreement with t he certified values.