Trends in instrumentation and data processsing in ICP-AES : Plenary Lecture

Although ICP-AES has reached maturity and is routinely used for elemental analysis, there is still a demand for improvement in both instrumentation and data processing. Improvement in instrumentation may involve total sample consumption introduction systems, optimization of the axial viewing mode, and better resolution and dynamic range for charge transfer device detectors along with the possibility of time correlation. However, it is expected that most forthcoming improvements will be related to more efficient data processing to take full benefit of the available emitted information. In particular, the availability of the entire UV–visible spectra should improve the reliability of the analytical results through the use of several lines per element and through a better understanding of matrix effects, and, consequently, a more efficient internal standardization. Selection of a set of lines should take into account the possibility of using compromise operating conditions and having lines that exhibit different behaviors for a change in matrix concentration or nature.