Electrothermal vaporization for sample introduction in microwave-induced plasma atomic absorption spectrometry

An electrothermal vaporization device has been designed for use in sample introduction and this has been coupled with microwave-induced plasma atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-MIP-AAS). Various vaporization chambers were tested to minimize the turbulence and the dead volume. A series of experimental parameters were examined and optimized. Some influences, such as concomitant element and easily ionized element (EIE) effects, which are commonly encountered in microwave-induced plasma atomic emission spectrometry were investigated. The analytical figures of merit for ET-MIP-AAS are discussed. The characteristic concentrations obtained in this work were found to be at the ng ml–1 or higher level. The precision for the determination of Ca, Ag and Cu was shown to be in the range 5.6–7.8%. The recommended method was also used to analyse real samples, and satisfactory results were obtained.