CHARACTERIZATION OF OPERATING PARAMETERS IN FLOW-INJECTION ICP-MS

The behavior and interaction of operating parameters in flow injection ICP-MS were characterized. Sensitivity, precision, background, detect ion limit, elemental coverage, and sample throughput were some of the figures of merit used to gauge the effect and importance of parameters such as carrier flow rate, nebulizer flow rate, injection volume, pea k integration routines, and flow injection manifold design. The tempor al characteristics of the flow injection signal and the sequential, mu lti-element nature of the ICP-MS measurement were considered to identi fy optimum parameters for a variety of different analytical situations . The implications of parametric choices on analytical objectives are discussed.