Applications electrothermal vaporization

To optimize the applicability of the electrothermal vaporization technique, the most critical requirement is the design of the sample transport mechanism. The sample must be fully vaporized without any decomposition, after desolvation and matrix degradation, and transferred into the plasma. Condensation on the vessel walls or tubing must be avoided and the flow must be slow enough for elements to be atomized efficiently in the plasma itself. A commercial electrothermal vaporizer should provide flexibility and allow the necessary sample pretreatment to introduce a clean sample into the plasma. Several commercial systems are now available, primarily for the newer technique of inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. These are often extremely expensive, so home built or cheaper systems may initially seem attractive. However, the cost of any software and hardware interfacing to couple to the existing instrument should not be underestimated. 

Various efficient devices have been utilized for sample introduction into an inductive plasma source, for example the application of several nebulizers, hyphenated techniques, hydride generation, laser ablation and electrothermal vaporization. The role of the solution introduction system in an inductively coupled plasma source is to convert the liquid sample into a suitable form (e.g.,... 

Apart from multi-element analysis employed for large scale studies, single element analysis (e.g., especially of toxic elements such as Cd, Hg, Tl or Pb) is performed in environmental science for special applications. For example, Hg and Tl have been determined in environmental samples by slurry sampling using electrothermal vaporization (ETV) ICP-MS. If potassium permanganate is employed as a modifier in ETV at optimized pyrolysis temperatures of 300 °C for Hg and 500 °C for Tl, detection limits of 0.18p,gg 1 (Hg) and 0.07p,gg 1 (Tl) are obtained.58... 

Todoli, J.L. and Vanhaecke, F. (2005) Liquid sample introduction and electrothermal vaporization for ICP-MS fundamentals and applications, in ICP Mass Spectrometry Handbook (ed. S. Nelms), Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 182-227. 

Alternative Sample Introduction Techniques Nonstandard sampling accessories like laser ablation systems, flow injection analyzers, electrothermal vaporizers, cooled spray chambers, desolvation equipment, direct injection nebulizers, and automated sample delivery systans and dilu-tors are considered critical to enhancing the practical capabilities of the technique. Their use has increased significantly over the past few years as ICP-MS is being asked to solve more and more diverse application problems. This chapter reflects the increased interest in sampling accessories, especially in the area of specialized sample introduction and desolvation devices to reduce the impact of conunon interferences. 

Zheng, F. and Hu, B. (2008) Novel bimodal porous A/-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane-silica monolithic capillary microextraction and its application to the fractionation of aluminum in rainwater and fruit juice by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Spectrochim. Acta B, 63, 9-18. 

Richner, R, and Wunderli, S. (1993). Differentiation between organic and inorganic chlorine by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry Application to the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in waste oHs.J.Aruil.At. Spectrom. 8(1), 45-50. 

Richner, R, Evans, D., Wahrenberger, C., and Dietrich,V (1994). Applications of laser ablation and electrothermal vaporization as sample introduction techniques for ICP-MS. Freseniiis J.Anat. Chem. 350(4/5), 235. 

Friese, K. C., Grobecker, K. H., and Watjen, U. (2001) Development of an electrothermal vaporization ICP-MS method and assessment of its applicability to studies of the homogeneity of reference materials. Fresenius J. Anal. Client., 370,499-507. 

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