EMISSION SPECTROMETRIC DETECTION OF ELEMENTS AT NANOGRAM PER MILLILITER LEVEL USING INDUCTION-COUPLED PLASMA EXCITATION

Continuing investigations on the spectroscopic properties and analytical applications of induction-coupled plasmas have revealed that striking improvements in powers of detection of trace elements in solution may be realized through effective optimization of a number of experimental factors. The latter include: (a) desolvation of the nebulized solution before introduction of the sample into the plasma; (b) development of a plasma shape which allows more efficient introduction of the aerosol residue into the plasma; and (c) addition of a remote tuning facility for optimal coupling of the generator to the plasma. Emission detection limits of all elements investigated (including Ce, Ta, Th, U, Zr, and Hf) fall in the nanogram to fractional microgram per milliliter range. For many metals, the observed detection limits range from two to four orders of magnitude superior to the best values so far reported by flame atomic absorption or emission techniques. © 1969, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.