Excitation temperature and analytical parameters for an ethanol-loaded inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer

Abstract

The effect of ethanol concentrations on the excitation temperature of an inductively coupled plasma was determined from hydrogen emission signals. Increasing the ethanol concentration resulted in an initial increase in excitation temperature. This temperature reached a maximum when 15% v/v ethanol was nebulized, then decreased with further increase in ethanol concentration. The analytical parameters of sensitivity, detection limits and background equivalent concentration for Pb, Cd, Al, Cr, Fe, Na, Mn, Mo and V were correlated to the effects caused by the ethanol within the plasma. The sensitivity in the determination of all the elements increased with increasing ethanol to a maximum of 15% ethanol, the amount of increase depending on the element. The flow rate of the aerosol carrier gas was of greater importance when ethanol was present in the solvent than when pure water was the solvent. Improved detection limits were obtained when the plasma was operating under optimum conditions and the samples were in 15% ethanol solutions.