Direct Current Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry DCP-OES

3 Direct Current Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (DCP-OES) 

This technique was first described in the 1920s having been thoroughly investigated since then as a source as an analytical tool. It was not until the late 1960s with the development 

The viewing region of the plasma can achieve a temperature of 5000-6000°C and is reasonably stable. The sample solution is aspirated into the core area between the two arms of the Y where it is atomised, excited and viewed. This technique keeps with the atomic spectroscopy theory in that the measurements are obtained by emission from the valence electrons of the atoms that are excited, and the emitted radiation consists of short well-defined lines. All these lines fall in the UV or VIS region of the spectrum and identification of these lines permits qualitative/quantitative detection of elements. 

The design of the DCP-OES allows the use of both aqueous and most non-aqueous solvents, providing standards and samples are prepared under similar conditions. It is more expensive to operate than AAS but cheaper than ICP-OES. The limitation of DCP-OES is the susceptibility to excitation interferences and increased signals from easily ionisable elements (EIEs). It has lower limits of detection and wider linear range for most elements but not as good as ICP-OES. 

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Liquid Scintillation Systems, LSS Neutron Counting Systems, NCS Direct-Current Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry, DCP-OES IR Spectroscopy (e.g. FTIR)... 

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