Time resolved system for the analysis of particles in the inductively coupled plasma—preliminary studies

Abstract

A time-resolved system for inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry has been assembled for the study of signals from single particles injected into the plasma. A fast multichannel analogue-to-digital converter replaced the conventional electronics to study signals resulting from laser ablation and from the nebulization of suspensions. Signals from single particles of many materials in the size range 1–5 µm and the effects of operating conditions on the nature of the signal have been observed. While many features of the system require detailed study before accurate quantification can be demonstrated, the method potentially offers several valuable advantages over conventional integration.