Desolvation devices

Platinum is now used in a variety of chemotherapy drugs that completely metabolize in the human body to a number of platinum containing species. Cairns et al. [23] separated the drug from its metabolites, using a C18 column and a 95 5 to 30 70 H O/acetonitrile solvent gradient. A desolvation device was used to remove a significant amount of the organic solvent. 

Electrospray a solution of the sample in a solvent is pumped into the source through a capillary submitted to an electric field of several kilovolts per centimetre. This produces droplets and solvated ions in the gas phase. The solvated ions pass through a desolvation device under vacuum and are injected into the analyser. Electrospray produces multiply charged ions from large molecules. 

There are many other nonstandard sample introduction devices such as laser ablation, ultrasonic nebulizers, desolvation devices, direct injection nebulizers, flow injection systems, and electrothermal vaporization, which are not described in this chapter. However, because they are becoming more and more important, particularly as ICP-MS users are demanding higher performance and more flexibility, they are covered in greater detail in Chapter 17. 

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. 

The rapid nature of the transient event has also limited the usefulness of ETV sampling for routine multielement analysis, because realistically only a small number of elements can be quantified with good accuracy and precision in >3 s. In addition, the development of low-flow nebulizers, desolvation devices, automated online chemistry, cool plasma technology, and coUision/reaction cells and interfaces has meant that multielement analysis can now be carried out on difficult matrices without the need for ETV sample introduction. This has limited its use to more research-oriented applications. 

Chilled/cooled spray chambers and desolvation devices are becoming more and more common in ICP-MS, primarily to cut down on the amount of liquid entering... 

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