Gas torches

The extracts were then atomised and fed into the ROTARC reactor for high temperature treatment. In the first case the atomised extract was mixed with the torch gas (Argon) only. It was a pure pyrolysis, which was effective in the sooting of the reactor walls and it was making the scrubber fluid dirty. The disadvantage of the pure pyrolysis process confirmed our theoretical considerations on thermal destruction of PCB s presented in [9]. To avoid sooting, we fed steam into the reaction chamber in the amount of 10% above the stoichiometry. In this case, which we call the wet pyrolysis , we obtained the destruction efficiency of oil- PCB s at least 99.99%. The offgas analysis on the concentration of oil-PCB s were below the detection limit 0.2 ppm. 

Conversion of torch gas was carried out on Zn-ZSM-5 catalysts. It should be noted that torch gas contains lower amount of C4 hydrocarbons, but it contains up to 20% of unsaturated hydrocarbons. The results of conversion of this gas mixture are summarized in Table 3. 

These data show that Zn-ZSM-5 catalysts possess high catalytic activity for torch gas conversion into liquid hydrocarbons. The yield of these products depends on the conditions the reaction carried out in and the catalyst composition. With the increase of space velocity from 500h to lOOOh the conversion of gas mixture and the yield of liquid products... 

The results of conversion of C2-C4 alkanes mixture and torch gas over the catalysts prepared on the basis of SCH-1, in Table 1 and 3 show that their catalytic properties are very close to that of Zn-ZSM-5. This conclusion allows to simplify the problem of catalytic preparation for the utilization of lower alkanes. 

Comparing the C2-C4 alkanes mixture and torch gas conversions (Table 1 and 3) with the conversion of the individual alkanes (Table 2) one can note the higher value of propane conversion in the mixture than in a pure form. At the same time, conversion of propane in the mixture with propylene also leads to the increase of total propane conversion and the formation of aromatic hydrocarbons. 

Fig. 2. Schematic diagram of ICP, torch, gas flows, and induced magnetic field. The shaded zones are observed when a nebulized sample containing Y is introduced via the aerosol gas flow.

Much of the energy deposited in a sample by a laser pulse or beam ablates as neutral material and not ions. Ordinarily, the neutral substances are simply pumped away, and the ions are analyzed by the mass spectrometer. To increase the number of ions formed, there is often a second ion source to produce ions from the neutral materials, thereby enhancing the total ion yield. This secondary or additional mode of ionization can be effected by electrons (electron ionization, El), reagent gases (chemical ionization. Cl), a plasma torch, or even a second laser pulse. The additional ionization is often organized as a pulse (electrons, reagent gas, or laser) that follows very shortly after the... 

By use of a piezoelectric device, as in a gas lighter, a small spark containing electrons and ions can be produced. If the spark is introduced into the gas in a discharge tube, it will provide the extra initial electrons and ions needed to start a continuous discharge. A plasma torch is frequently lit (started) in this fashion. 

This chapter should be read in conjunction with Chapter 6, Coronas, Plasmas, and Arcs. A plasma is defined as a gaseous phase containing neutral molecules, ions, and electrons. The numbers of ions and electrons are usually almost equal. In a plasma torch, the plasma is normally formed in a monatomic gas such as argon flowing between two concentric quartz tubes (Figure 14.1). 

Fundamentally, introduction of a gaseous sample is the easiest option for ICP/MS because all of the sample can be passed efficiently along the inlet tube and into the center of the flame. Unfortunately, gases are mainly confined to low-molecular-mass compounds, and many of the samples that need to be examined cannot be vaporized easily. Nevertheless, there are some key analyses that are carried out in this fashion the major one i.s the generation of volatile hydrides. Other methods for volatiles are discussed below. An important method of analysis uses lasers to vaporize nonvolatile samples such as bone or ceramics. With a laser, ablated (vaporized) sample material is swept into the plasma flame before it can condense out again. Similarly, electrically heated filaments or ovens are also used to volatilize solids, the vapor of which is then swept by argon makeup gas into the plasma torch. However, for convenience, the methods of introducing solid samples are discussed fully in Part C (Chapter 17). 

The volatile hydride (arsine in Equation 15.1) is swept by a. stream of argon gas into the inlet of the plasma torch. The plasma flame decomposes the hydride to give elemental ions. For example, arsine gives arsenic ions at m/z 75. The other elements listed in Figure 15.2 also yield volatile hydrides, except for mercury salts which are reduced to the element (Fig), which is volatile. In the plasma flame, the arsine of Equation 15.1 is transformed into As ions. The other elements of Figure 15.2 are converted similarly into their elemental ions. 

Nebulizers are used to introduce analyte solutions as an aerosol spray into a mass spectrometer. For use with plasma torches, it is necessary to produce a fine spray and to remove as much solvent as possible before the aerosol reaches the flame of the torch. Various designs of nebulizer are available, but most work on the principle of interacting gas and liquid streams or the use of ultrasonic devices to cause droplet formation. For nebulization applications in thermospray, APCI, and electrospray, see Chapters 8 and 11. 

The previous discussion has centered on how to obtain as much molecular mass and chemical structure information as possible from a given sample. However, there are many uses of mass spectrometry where precise isotope ratios are needed and total molecular mass information is unimportant. For accurate measurement of isotope ratio, the sample can be vaporized and then directed into a plasma torch. The sample can be a gas or a solution that is vaporized to form an aerosol, or it can be a solid that is vaporized to an aerosol by laser ablation. Whatever method is used to vaporize the sample, it is then swept into the flame of a plasma torch. Operating at temperatures of about 5000 K and containing large numbers of gas ions and electrons, the plasma completely fragments all substances into ionized atoms within a few milliseconds. The ionized atoms are then passed into a mass analyzer for measurement of their atomic mass and abundance of isotopes. Even intractable substances such as glass, ceramics, rock, and bone can be examined directly by this technique. 

There are different conditions for producing a plasma, which can be started in gases at low or high (atmospheric) pressures. In a plasma torch, a flow of argon gas is used at atmospheric pressure. 

All methods of plasma production require some electrons to be present as electric-discharge initiators. For a plasma torch, the initiating electrons are introduced from a piezoelectric spark directed into argon gas flowing in the interval between two concentric quartz tubes. 

Near the outlet from the torch, at the end of the concentric tubes, a radio high-frequency coil produces a rapidly oscillating electromagnetic field in the flowing gas. The applied high-frequency field couples inductively with the electric fields of the electrons and ions in the plasma, hence the name inductively coupled plasma or ICP. 

An approximate equilibrium is set up in the plasma, with the electrons, ions, and atoms having velocity distributions similar to those of a gas that has been heated to temperatures of 7,000 to 10,000°C. Since the plasma is ignited toward the end of the concentric tubes from which argon gas is issuing, the plasma appears as a pale-blue-to-lilac flame coming out of the end of the tube, which is why the system is referred to as a torch, as in a welding torch. 

The aerosol is swept to the torch in a stream of argon gas. During passage from the nebulizer to the plasma flame, the droplets rapidly become smaller, as solvent evaporates, and evenmally become very small. In many cases, almost all of the solvent evaporates to leave dry particulate matter of residual analyte. 

For mass spectrometric analysis of an analyte solution using a plasma torch, it is necessary to break down the solution into a fine droplet form that can be swept into the flame by a stream of argon gas. On the way to the flame, the droplets become even smaller and can eventually lose all solvent to leave dry analyte particulate matter. This fine residual matter can be fragmented and ionized in the plasma flame without disturbing its operation. 

For inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) the sample is normally in solution but may be a fine particulate solid or even a gas. If it is a solution, this is nebulized, resulting in a fine spray or aerosol, in flowing argon gas. The aerosol is introduced into a plasma torch, illustrated in Figure 3.21. 

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