Instrumental detection by ICP-AES

The application of ICP-AES has been pioneered since 1962 by the group of Albright and Wilson (e.g., Greenfield) and by Fassel (1978). The electronic equipment, the aerosol injection and the optical systems have been steadily improved to reduce sample amounts and to lower detection limits. The recently developed semiconductor array detectors in ICP technology, in combination with a powerful data processing system, offer the advantage of simultaneous detection and calibration of 30 or more elements. For details of the physics and equipment we refer to Atkins (1987) or Robinson (1996). 

Rinsing solution For rinsing of the system between sample measurements, O.Smol/L nitric acid (ca. 42 g of concentrated HNO3 are diluted to IL with high-purity distilled 

Manganese warm-up solution (lOmg/L Mn) lOmL of Mn standard solution (1.000g/L) and 5 g of HNO3 are diluted to 1L with high-purity distilled water. This solution may be used to monitor the performance of the instrument. 

Preferable emission wavelengths for elements in ICP-AES analysis are tabulated (in ICP manuals Table 12-7) or are available in the literature e.g., Zaidel et ai, 1970 Robinson, 1996). 

How do you run a routine analysis using ICP-AES The details depend on the manufacturer and, more importantly, on the age of the instrument. Modem instruments are run perfectly by computers with Windows or comparable software (done by mouse-clicks on icons). Older instruments require manual operations. However, the principles remain the same  

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