Use of electrostatic preconcentration at high salt concentrations

Apparatus is described for the electrostatic preconcentration of aerosol particles with a collector trough electrode from samples containing large amounts of matrix salts. A cooling and filtration cycle is used to precipitate and separate the matrix salts, and prevent saturation of the collector solution. The system has been applied to the preconcentration of sea-water species before analysis by flame atomic-absorption spectroscopy.