SPECIATION ANALYSIS BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH PLASMA SOURCE SPECTROMETRIC DETECTION

State-of-the-art species-selective analysis by gas chromatography (GC) with plasma source spectrometric detection is discussed for organomet al and organometalloid compounds. Various plasmas, inductively coupled plasma, microwave induced plasma, capacitatively coupled plasma, dire ct current plasma and alternating current plasma, are characterized an d critically compared as sources of radiation for atomic emission spec trometry and sources of ions for mass spectrometry. Interfaces between gas chromatography (packed, wide-bore, capillary and multicapillary) and plasma source spectrometry are characterized, Particular emphasis is given to applications of GC with plasma source detection to real-wo rld analytical problems, which are comprehensively reviewed. The use o f plasmas for the acquisition of auxiliary molecular information such as empirical formulae and structural information is discussed. Recent developments relating to sample preparation and presentation to the hy phenated system are addressed. The most significant trends in speciati on analysis are highlighted. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.