| dc.description | The operating characteristics of a number of locally constructed inductively coupled plasma (ICP) dual
sample introduction designs used for the determination of volatile and non volatile elements have been
compared. Four cyclonic spray chamber arrangements with entrance angles of 0, 45, 90, and 180° were
tested. The operating characteristics studied included instrumental conditions, chemical conditions for the
hydride generation reaction and analytical figures of merit. Analytical performance of the nebulization
systems was characterized by determination of the signal to background ratio (SBR), the limits of detection
(LODs), and the precision (RSDs). In general, the results suggest that the dual system with 45° configuration
was found to be the best indicator of the analytical performance of the dual pneumatic nebulizer-cyclonic
chamber arrangement studied, giving the best SBR, precision (1.0–3.5%) and in most cases the lowest
detection limits (0.3–24.6 ng L−1) for both, the hydride and non-hydride forming elements. Long-term
reproducibility from the 45 degree-dual system was superior to those of different angles configuration
(ranging from 4.2 to 5.1% for the non- and hydride forming elements respectively). The applicability of the
dual system was proven by analyzing NIST 1573 Tomato Leaves with satisfactory results. | |
