InductivelyCoupled

Plasma -Atomic
EmissionSpectrometry
 The basic aim of analytical atomic spectroscopy
- Identify elements
- Quantify concentrations in various media

The procedure consists of three general steps:

- Atom formation
- Excitation
- Emission

Before excitation an element must be separated

from that matrix so that its atomic emission
spectra is free from interferences
ICP-AES utilizes a plasma as the atomization and
excitation source.

A plasma is an electrically neutral,

highly ionized gas that consists of ions, electrons,
and atoms.
Plasmas found in nature
• Sun
• Lightning
• Aurora borealis
The energy that maintains an analytical plasma is
derived from :
an electric or magnetic field

do not “burn.”
Most analytical plasmas operate with pure argon or
helium, which makes combustion impossible

Range in temperature from 600 to 8,000 K

SCHEMATIC OF AN ICP TORCH
The plasma temperature in the analytical zone
ranges from 5000–8000 K (the
temperature varies with power, flow rate, etc.).

The high temperature assures that most

samples are completely atomized, although some
molecular species (e.g., N2, N2+, OH,C2, etc.) do
exist and can be readily measured in the plasma.
The plasma emits a continuum of background radiation that extends from
the visible into the ultraviolet region
Sample Introduction
• All three states (solid, liquid, gas) have been
successfully introduced into an ICP.
• Aqueous and nonaqueous solvents have been utilized,
the most
• Commonly analyzed sample is cations in solution.
Its solutions, a nebulizer is used to convert the liquid
stream into an aerosol consisting of particles that are
1–10 mm in diameter
 Type of nebulizer in use
Pneumatic Nebulizer
Frit Nebulizer
Ultrasonic NebulizerElectrothermal Vaporizer
Hydride Generator ( + NaBH4) Volatile hydride
A PNEUMATIC NEBULIZER IN WHICH THE SAMPLE AND NEBULIZING GAS
COMBINE AT RIGHTANGLES TO FORM AN AEROSOL.
FRIT NEBULIZER
ULTRASONIC NEBULIZER
ELECTROTHERMAL VAPORIZER
a small amount of solid sample is mounted on an electrode and vaporized by
the an electric current before being transported to the ICP
TWO-DIMENSIONAL DISPERSION AND DETECTION OF
RADIATION USING A CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICE (CCD)
Vertical ICP emission intensity profiles of Zn I 213.856
nm.
Sample volume = 10 ml, concentration of Zn = 200 ng/ml.
ICP emission intensity of Zn I 213.856 nm versus NaCl concentration.
Sample volume = 10 μl, Zn concentration = 200ng/ml, observation height = 9 mm above load
coil.
Thermal properties of some species of the test element and the matrix15
Head-to-tail intensity ratios of the Zn lines versus NaCl concentration.
Na I 330.237 nm emission intensity within the Zn peak versus NaCl
concentration.