THERMOSPRAY NEBULIZATION AS SAMPLE INTROD UCTION FOR INDUCTIVELY-COUPLED PLASMA-ATOMIC EMISSION-SPECTROMETRY

A sample introduction system, thermospray nebulizer was coupled to an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer. The optimizat ion procedure includes the ICP operation conditions, the capillary tem perature, the sample uptake rate, aerosol spray chamber temperature an d the cooling water temperature. Under optimized conditions, the sensi tivity for 23 elements obtained with the thermospray system is 14 simi lar to 25 times higher than with a pneumatic nebulizer. The thermospra y systems have been shown to improve detection limits an order of magn itude lower than that obtained with pneumatic sample introduction.