Analytical Characteristics of the Microwave-Induced Nitrogen Discharge at Atmospheric Pressure (MINDAP)

摘要

A microwave induced plasma (MIP) is sustained at atmospheric pressure using nitrogen as the plasma and nebulizer gas. The plasma is operated at 2450 MHz and has been optimized at 250 W of rf power with a total nitrogen flow rate of 1.78 L/min. The analytical performance of this plasma has been evaluated and compared with other atmospheric pressure plasma systems. Detection limits were typically in the part-per-billion concentration range, and calibration curves were linear over three-to-five orders of magnitude. Interelement interferences were observed but were overcome with the use of releasing agents. Precision for an analytical measurement was generally better than 2% relative standard deviation. Keywords: Reprints; Microwave Plasma; Elemental Analysis; Instrumentation; Emission Spectrometry.