NEWS Glass Expansion Newsletter | October 2010 | Issue 23
GE NEWS
Application Spotlig ht
Improved Accuracy in the Ana lysis
of Precio us Me tals by ICP -OES
Andy Smith
(Johnson Matthey, UK)
Jol Desmarchelier
(Glass Expansion, Australia)
Introduction
This study investigates the intensity variations and measurement accuracy of precious
metals at different spray chamber temperatures, compared with a conventional spray
chamber at ambient temperature. The aim of the exercise was to investigate the
feasibility of analysing precious metal solutions using ICP techniques to replicate the high
level of accuracy and precision obtained using conventional wet chemical techniques.
The investigation was carried out using an IsoMist Programmable Temperature
Spray Chamber connected to a Varian Vista Radial ICP-OES as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1 also shows the Capricorn Argon Humidifier, which is used to help prevent
salt build-up inside the sample introduction system when running samples having
a high concentration of dissolved solids. The IsoMist allows the user to control the
temperature of the spray chamber, whether it be for cooling or heating, to finely tune
the conditions for optimal sample introduction and ensure long term stability of the
signal. Therefore, any change in laboratory temperature is not reflected in the results.
The IsoMist also has a number of other benefits depending on the type of sample
matrix. For example; setting the IsoMist at low temperatures reduces the solvent load
on the plasma and facilitates the analysis of highly-volatile organic samples that, under
normal laboratory conditions, tend to promote plasma instability, or in some cases
completely extinguish the plasma. Thus, even highly volatile solvents like naphtha can
be run undiluted if the IsoMist temperature is set at -10°C. Another advantage is that
when samples are very limited in volume, they can be analyzed at very low uptake rates
with a heated spray chamber without the ensuing loss in detection limits as would be
realized on a conventional spray chamber without temperature control.
Website upgrade –
simplified selection of
products to suit your
application
With our new product selection feature,
finding the optimum sample introduction
system for your particular application has
never been easier. Simply select your ICP
model and your application, and the most
suitable sample introduction components
are immediately displayed. Information
is available to suit the most common
applications of the most common
ICP-OES and ICP-MS models. Click here
to check it out. We will be expanding this
product selection feature to other models
over time. If your model or your application
is not currently covered, please send an
email to enquiries@geicp.com and we
will happily provide you with details of the
most suitable sample introduction system.
In this iss ue:
• Application Spotlight 1 – 4
• GE News 1 – 2
• Hints 3
• New Products 5
• Instrument News 6
- From Agilent Technologies
- From HORIBA Scientific
- From Spectro
- From Thermo Fisher Scientific
Figure 1: Experimental setup for the Varian Vista Radial ICP-OES with a Glass Expansion IsoMist Programmable
Temperature Spray Chamber and the Capricorn Argon Humidifier attached.
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