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Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry
| Instrument
|
Varian
VISTA PRO |
|
| Elemental
range |
Li
to U, see Periodic
Table |
|
Main applications
|
Major,
minor and trace elements in sample solutions. |
|
Sample
media
|
Sample
solutions of rocks, minerals, waters, organics.
|
|
Samples
are dispersed into a stream of argon gas through a nebuliser
and carried to an ICP. The sample atoms are excited in the
ICP and this causes them to lose electrons. As they regain
their lost electrons the sample atoms emit photons of light,
with wavelengths characteristic of the elements present. A
spectrometer is used to separate the light emitted into the
various wavelengths and these are detected and recorded simultaneously
using a solid-state detector.
Examples
of projects using the instrument include the analysis of waters
from sewage treatment plants, a study of the chemistry of
alkaline igneous rocks, analysis of clays used in landfill
sites, remediation studies of toxic soils using bone-meal,
and trace element analysis of metals in biological materials.
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