Size and distribution of particles deposited electrostatically onto the platform of a graphite furnace obtained using laser ablation sampling

Electrostatic particle deposition onto the platform of an ETA graphite furnace was investigated by solid sampling employing laser ablation. The aerosol generated by laser ablation is transported into the furnace-by an Ar gas flow. It is piped into the tube through the dosing hole via a capillary. The deposition onto the graphite platform is achieved by impact as well as electrostatically by a discharge. The deposition efficiency was investigated with steel samples, the sample distribution on the graphite platform and the size of the deposited particles was investigated with steel, phosphate rock and plastic samples. Employing electrostatic precipitation, particles with diameters down to about 5 nm are deposited. The efficiency is measured by an additional external precipitator, showing almost quantitative deposition of the introduced particles. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.