PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW SINGLE-BORE HIGH-PRESSURE PNEUMATIC NEBULIZER (SBHPPN) IN PLASMA-ATOMIC EMISSION-SPECTROMETRY

The analytical performance of the new single-bore high-pressure pneuma tic nebulizer (SBHPPN) has been evaluated in ICP-AES. It has been comp ared with a commercially available pneumatic all-glass concentric nebu lizer. The new SBHPPN generates finer and narrower primary aerosols th an the concentric nebulizer. With respect to the concentric nebulizer, the analyte transport rate for SBHPPN is 1.8 to 3.4 times higher, its sensitivity 2.8 to 3.8 times higher, and its limits of detection 2 to 5 times lower. The better performance shown by the SBHPPN has been ve rified in both the continuous and the discrete mode, as well as with h igh-salt-content solutions, showing no tendency to clog because of sal t deposition.