The effect of sample matrix on electron density, electron temperature and gas temperature in the argon inductively coupled plasma examined by Thomson and Rayleigh scattering

Comparison of matrix effects in inductively coupled plasma using laser ablation and solution nebulization for dry and wet plasma conditions

“…The flow rate used in our previous study using laser ablation sampling was 0.4 L/min. Therefore, it is possible that with a low central-channel gas flow rate, the vertical emission profile shifts downward and the cross over point (if any) shifts to a position below the measurement region [2]. On the other hand, it is possible that the differences arise from operating a dry plasma versus a wet plasma.…”

“…So far there is no agreement on the dominant mechanism [12][13][14][15]. A possible reason for the lack of a general theory on matrix effects is that most of the reports on matrix effects in ICP-AES used direct solution nebulization or solution nebulization followed by desolvation [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. The aerosol is not completely dry even with desolvation, and water remains a major component among the injected species [16].…”

“…Matrix effects remain an important yet not fully understood phenomenon in plasma emission spectrometry [12][13][14][15]. Different mechanisms have been proposed for the plasma-related non-spectroscopic matrix interferences in ICP-AES including increased collisional excitation [1][2][3][4][5], ambipolar diffusion [1], shift in analyte-ionization equilibrium [1][2][3], ion-electron recombination [5][6][7], lateral diffusion [2][3][8][9], change in energy distribution of species that collide with and excite the analyte [10] and change in excitation conditions of the plasma [11]. So far there is no agreement on the dominant mechanism [12][13][14][15].…”

“…Plasma-related non-spectroscopic matrix effects from easily ionizable elements (such as K, Na) and other matrices (such as HNO 3 , H 2 SO 4 ) cause analyte signal suppression or enhancement in inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. Matrix effects remain an important yet not fully understood phenomenon in plasma emission spectrometry [12][13][14][15].…”

“…Most of the matrix effects studies in the literature were based on solution sample introduction [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][18][19][20], in which the central channel gas flow rate was typically 1 L/min. The flow rate used in our previous study using laser ablation sampling was 0.4 L/min.…”