Some observations on the effects of easily ionized elements in a microwave-induced plasma

Abstract

The characteristics of the effects of easily ionized elements (EIEs) in a microwave-induced plasma (MIP) were investigated in detail. Aqueous samples were introduced from an ultrasonic nebulizer and the solvent was removed by a desolvation system. To understand the EIE effects in nebulization and desolvation processes, either a single or a double cup nebulization system was used. To elucidate further the EIE behavior in atomization and excitation processes, the effects of EIEs on emission intensities and absorbances of some elements were studied by microwave-induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (MIP-AES) and microwave-induced plasma-atomic absorption spectrometry (MIP-AAS). The experimental results demonstrate that in comparision with EIE effects on nebulization and desolvation, the EIE effects occurring in the plasma play a more important role in the overall EIE effect. Under certain conditions the EIE effects on excitation are more important and more complex than those on atomization.