Optically absorbent liquids methods

Mass spectrometry is the only universal multielement method which allows the determination of all elements and their isotopes in both solids and liquids. Detection limits for virtually all elements are low. Mass spectrometry can be more easily applied than other spectroscopic techniques as an absolute method, because the analyte atoms produce the analytical signal themselves, and their amount is not deduced from emitted or absorbed radiation the spectra are simple compared to the line-rich spectra often found in optical emission spectrometry. The resolving power of conventional mass spectrometers is sufficient to separate all isotope signals, although expensive instruments and skill are required to eliminate interferences from molecules and polyatomic cluster ions. 

A number of other laser spectroscopic techniques are of interest but space does not permit their discussion. A few specialized methods of detecting laser absorption worthy of mention include multiphoton ionization/mass spectrometry (28), which is extremely sensitive as well as mass selective for gas-phase systems optically detected magnetic resonance (29) laser intracavity absorption, which can be extremely sensitive and is applicable to gases or solutions (30) thermal blooming, which is also applicable to very weak absorbances in gases or liquids (31) and... 

While the alkyl chain distribution is determined on a non-polar RP8 and RP18, EO homologue distribution is determined using a polar phase. AEOs are not UV-absorbing species, so they cannot be directly determined by HPLC followed by standard optical detection systems (UV and FL), unless suitable derivatives are prepared [2], Because of this, methods based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry [77-79] are currently considered as the benchmark procedure that gives sufficiently high selectivity and sensitivity. 

The reduction of dimensions also reduces volumes that are accessible for the detector. Thus, detection principles that are related to the volume of the detector cell, as absorbance measurements, are not ideally suited for coupling to microsystems, whereas surface sensitive principles, such as electrochemical methods or optical methods utilizing the evanescent field of a waveguide, or methods that can be focused on a small amount of liquid, such as fluorescence, are better suited. That is why fluorescence detectors are most often combined with microsystems, with an increasing number of reports appearing on the integration of electrochemical detectors. 

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