A LOW-POWER SURFATRON SOURCE FOR THE ATOMIC-EMISSION-SPECTROMETRIC DETECTION OF NONMETALS IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTION

Emission spectra in the UV-visible and near-infrared (NIR) spectral regions are presented for several nonmetals introduced as aqueous solutions by a glass-frit nebulizer. Detectability improves for some nonmetals with the use of a desolvation system to rueduce the amount of water vapor entering the plasma. Detection limits for P, I, S, Cl, Br, and C are in the low- to sub-ppm range. Good precision (RSD less than 5%) and a dynamic range of 2-3 decades were observed for I and P. Easily ionizable elements such as K, Na, and Li can enhance nonmetal emission by as much as 30%.