Analyte transport efficiency with electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Reported are results for the quantitative determination of absolute transport efficiency in electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ETV-ICP-MS) for the Perkin-Elmer HGA-600MS electrothermal vaporizer. The absolute transport efficiencies for Mo, In, Tl and Bi were determined using experimental conditions typical of those applied to real analysis by ETV-ICP-MS. Experiments using an on-line filter trapping apparatus indicated that particles produced by the ETV device were smaller than 0.1 μm in diameter. The nature and condition of the ETV graphite surface, the length of the transfer tube, and the effect that diluted seawater and palladium modifiers have on analyte transport efficiency were investigated. Transport efficiency was comparable for all elements studied and was enhanced with previously used, rather than new, graphite tubes and when seawater and palladium carriers were present. When analyte was vaporized without carrier from a new graphite tube, the transport efficiency to the plasma was approximately 10%. Approximately 70% of the total amount of analyte vaporized was deposited within the ETV switching valve, 19% onto the transfer tubing and 1% onto the components comprising the torch assembly. These conditions represent the `worst case scenario', with analyte transport to the plasma increasing to approximately 20% or more with the addition of carrier.