Tubular Nebulizers

The dimensions of concentric-tube nebulizers have been reduced to give microconcentric nebulizers (MCN), which can also be made from acid-resistant material. Sample uptake with these microbore sprayers is only about 50 xl/min, yet they provide such good sample-transfer efficiencies that they have a performance comparable with other pneumatic nebulizers, which consume about 1 ml/min of sample. Careful alignment of the ends of the concentric capillary tubes (the nozzle) 

In a concentric-tube nebulizer, the sample solution is drawn through the inner capillary by the vacuum created when the argon gas stream flows over the end (nozzle) at high linear velocity. As the solution is drawn out, the edges of the liquid forming a film over the end of the inner capillary are blown away as a spray of droplets and solvent vapor. This aerosol may pass through spray and desolvation chambers before reaching the plasma flame. 

Three common types of nozzle are shown diagrammatically. Types A and K are similar, with sharp cutoffs on the ends of the outer and inner capillaries to maximize shear forces on the liquid issuing from the end of the inner tube. In types K and C, the inner capillary does not extend to the end of the outer tube, and there is a greater production of aerosol per unit time. These concentric-tube nebulizers operate at argon gas flows of about 1 1/min. 

The fast-flowing narrow liquid stream has a high relative linear velocity with respect to the slower flow of the argon gas stream. This leads to breaking up the liquid stream into fast-moving droplets, which strike the impactor bead and form much smaller droplets. 

The liquid sample flows into the nozzle and coats the inside walls. The sample stream arrives at the orifice (the nozzle outlet is about 0.01 cm diameter), where it meets the argon stream and is nebulized. 

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Two thermal devices co-exist one consists of a burner fed by a combustible gaseous mixture, the other is a type of small tubular electric oven. In the first assembly, used for the majority of elements, an aqueous solution of the sample is nebulized and then introduced into the flame at a constant rate. In the second, the sample is deposited in a small graphite hollow rod open at both ends, where it is volatized. This more expensive assembly has a greater sensitivity toward refractory elements (V, Mo, Zr). In both methods the optical path source/detector pass through the region containing a tiny cloud of atoms gas in the free state. 

Nebulizer with membrane desolvation (tubular microporous Teflon membranes polyimide fibers Nafion tubes)... 

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