Page 275 - Inorganic Mass Spectrometry - Fundamentals and Applications

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of
One of the most challenging aspects atomic spectrometry is the incredibly wide
variety of sample types that require elemental analysis. Samples cover the gamut
of solids, liquids, and gases. By the nature of most modern spectrochemical meth-
ods, the latter two states are much more readily presented to sources that operate
at atmospheric pressure. The most widely used of these techniques are flame and
(FAAS and GF-AAS) [ 1,2]
graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry
and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission and mass spectrometries (ICP-
AES and MS) [3-51. As described in other chapters of this volume, ICP-MS is the
workhorse technique for the trace element analysis of samples in the solution
phase-either those that are native liquids or solids that are subjected to some sort
of dissolution procedure.
Although most analytical chemists would relate the field direct solids el-
of
emental analysis to the characteri~ation of metals and alloys, the fact is that a very
large number of solid sample types require elemental analyses, with the range ex-
panding on a continuous basis (e.g., glasses, ceramics, and even polymers). As
such, the conventional techniques of arc [6] and spark atomic emission and mass
spectrometries [7,8] must be evaluated with respect to whether or not they are ap-
plicable to the wide array of sample types.
Spark and arc spectrochemical sources rely on the ability of charged parti-
cles to heat the sample surface and ultimately desorb atoms from the solid matrix
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