An Ultrasonic Nebulizer as the Sample Introduction Device for High Performance Liquid Chromatography Combined with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry

A preliminary study of an ultrasonic nebulizer as the sample introduction device for the chromatographic speciation of ionic compounds containing As, Se and Cr is described. The analytical figures of merit observed during chromatographic separations with an ultrasonic nebulizer interfaced to an inductively coupled plasma‐atomic emission spectrometer (ICP‐AES) were comparable to or better than conventional pneumatic nebulization and other sample introduction techniques, in terms of organic solvent tolerance, sensitivity, detection limits and reproducibility. The limits of detection were in the ranges of 10‐14 ppb for Se, 30‐40 ppb for As, and 8‐10 ppb for Cr.