Microwave‐Induced Plasma Systems in Atomic Spectroscopy

Abstract

The use of microwave plasmas as radiation sources for optical atomic emission (AES), absorption (AAS) and fluorescence (AFS) spectroscopy and for laser ionization spectroscopy is treated and reference is also made to the use of microwave‐induced plasmas (MIPs) as ion sources for mass spectrometry (MS). Devices for producing both single‐electrode and electrodeless microwave plasmas are treated, in addition to methods for their diagnostics, and results for the analytically relevant plasma parameters are presented. Methods for sample introduction are discussed. They include dry aerosol generation techniques (hydride generation (HG), electrothermal evaporation, spark and laser ablation (LA)) and possibilities for the uptake of wet aerosols. Special reference is made to coupling with gas chromatography (GC) and also to the potential for coupling with high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) Further, the use of microwave plasmas for cross‐excitation in the case of glow discharges (GDs) is treated. The analytical figures of merit in the case of AES with low‐power microwave plasmas, single‐electrode microwave plasmas, plasma torch sources and stabilized capacitively coupled plasmas are given also in the case of atomic absorption, fluorescence and laser ionization with these sources. The developments in MS in the case of both low‐power and high‐power microwave plasmas and in the case of various types of sample introduction are discussed. Applications of MIP atomic spectroscopy are in the fields of biological samples with special reference to microanalysis, and of environmental samples with special emphasis on metal speciation, on‐line monitoring and direct solids analysis. A critical comparison of the methodology with other methods for the determination of the elements and their species is given.

Antimicrobial effects of microwave‐induced plasma torch (MiniMIP) treatment on Candida albicans biofilms

“…So far, microwave‐induced plasmas (MIPs) are mainly used in spectroscopy for the analysis of gas components (Broekaert and Engel, ), surface modifications (Jia, Kuraseko et al , ) or the processing of biogas (Tippayawong, Chaiya et al , ). Not much is known about microwave plasmas which are already used in medical technology apart from SteriPlas (Adtec, Hounslow, UK).…”

Elemental Analysis of Human Blood Serum by Microwave Plasma—Investigation of the Matrix Effects Caused by Sodium Using Model Solutions

“…Microwave-induced excitation sources have been investigated for decades to produce an alternative method of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), which is still the most commonly applied instrument in routine analysis [2][3][4][5]. Many articles have been published on the attempts to create a robust microwave-induced plasma (MIP) operating at lower gas flow and electrical capacity [6][7][8][9][10][11]. However, the analytical performance of these MIP-OES instruments have not reached that of the ICP.…”

Use of microwave induced plasma spectrometry as detector for the determination of O, N and H traces after carrier gas hot extraction

“…The problem related to low excitation yields for O, N and H in argon plasma sources can be overcome by using a helium operated microwave induced plasma (MIP) for excitation as they are described in ref. 2. Compared to CGHE with conventional IR/TC detection, CGHE combined with helium operated plasma source emission spectrometry can in principle offer some advantages with respect to sensitivity and robustness concerning the chemical species detected.…”