• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2002

The analytical performance of four commercially-available pneumatic nebulizers(Meinhard, Cross-flow, Babington, ESI PFA) was evaluated using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and ICP-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) instruments. The performance of an inert concentric nebulizer and a modified conespray nebulizer, made in Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), is compared with that of the four commercial nebulizers. Variation of sample introduction efficiency was investigated as carrier argon pressure and sample uptake rate were changed. Variation of sensitivity, signal stability, blank intensity and oxide/hydride ratios were also studied when the nebulizers were connected to the ICP-MS and ICP-AES instruments. It was found that good analytical result such as high sensitivity, low blank, stable signal and so on can be obtained with judicious selection of the nebulizer depending on the type of sample, sample amount, type of analytical instrument and analyte.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1277-1280
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• 1999

An inexpensive ultrasonic nebulizer (USN) was developed utilizing a home humidifier. The ultrasonic transducer was taken from a commercial USN and the power supply was from a humidifier. Sample was continuously fed into the nebulizer and the detection limit was improved 3-20 times over a pneumatic nebulizer. Undesirably, noise in signal was also increased several times. 0.5 ppm of Mn was used as an internal reference and the "long-term" drift could be successfully corrected. Since the noise contained high and low frequency components, both could be effectively removed only by the real-time correction method such as the Myer-Tracy method, where the reference line was simultaneously monitored with the analytical lines. The performance of USN was tested with NIST SRMs and showed good agreement with the certified values.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.21-24
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• 1996

Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer (ICP/AES) is a versatile modern instruments for the multi-element analysis, but quantitative analysis using ICP/AES with normal pneumatic nebulizer is not applicable for the measurement of elemental concentrations in water down to the drinkining water standard level except a few elements because of poor detection limits. However, the detection limit can be lowered enough to measure drinking water standard, if ultrasonic nebulizer and/or hydride vapor generator is attached. This method is tested with groundwater samples from Tajeon area. It is confirmed that the elemental concentrations in these samples are within the limit of drinking water standard for the most elements. However, uranium concentration is very high in some samples compared with the concentrations suggested by Environmental Protection Agency of U.S.A. There is no standard concentration level to this element in Korea and it should be prepared immediately.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.827-832
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• 2001

The excitation temperature and electron number density have been measured for end-on-view ICP discharge. In this work, end-on-view ICP-AES equipped with the newly developed “optical plasma interface (OPI)” was used to eliminate or remove the neg ative effects caused by end-on-plasma source. The axial excitation temperature was measured using analyte (Fe I) emission line data obtained with end-on-view ICP-AES. The axial electron number density was calculated by Saha-Eggert ionization equilibrium theory. In the present study, the effects of forward power, nebulizer gas flow rate and the presence of Na on the excitation temperature and electron number density have been investigated. For sample introduction, two kinds of nebulizers (pneumatic and ultrasonic nebulizer) were utilized.