CHARACTERISTICS OF AN INDUCTIVELY-COUPLED ARGON PLASMA OPERATING WITH ORGANIC AEROSOLS .1. SPECTRAL AND SPATIAL OBSERVATIONS

The effect of solvent and solvent load on the background spectra and visual features obtained from an inductively coupled argon plasma have been recorded. An experimental system for making these measurements is described. The solvents studied were water, methanol and chloroform, at solvent loads corresponding to the maximum and minimum obtainable. The most conspicuous features observed were emission atomic carbon, diatomic carbon and cyanide. A thermal pinch created by the introduction of organic solvents and a recirculation eddy at the base of the torch have been characterized.