Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Spectrometry (ICP)

Plasma emission spectroscopy is a common analytical tool for the determination of elemental analytes in solution. It is based upon the emission light from elemental species aspirated into a high temperature argon plasma, which is used for excitation of contained elements.

The inductive coupled plasma emission spectrophotometer (ICP) at WAL, uses an Ebert-Fastie double monochromator, consisting of a 330 mm focal length primary monochromator and a 165 mm focal length secondary monochromator. The grating is blazed a 500 nm (250 nm secondary order) with a ruling density of 1200 lines/nm. Spectral range is 185 to 900 nm. Spectral resolution in second order is 0.02 nm. The ICP is used at WAL, primarily for aqueous solutions when elemental quanitation is desired for a few elements. Detection limits on the ICP are generally in the ppm to sub-ppm range for solids, and sub-ppm for "as received" aqueous solutions. The detection limits in solids depends upon solubility characteristics for the analyte element and matrix.