High and ultra-high performance elemental analysis by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry using thermospray aerosol generation methods

his work covers two areas of research, both involving the use of thermospray for sample introduction to inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry; (1) enhancement and evaluation of normal thermospray and (2) development of high sample flow rate thermosprays. The first chapter describes the current state of thermospray as a sample introduction technique for atomic spectrometry, including the coupling of thermospray to inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission and mass spectrometry (ICP-AES and ICP-MS). Experiments that photographically capture the aerosol formation process of fused silica aperture thermospray (FSApT), and particle size distributions for FSApT as compared to ultrasonic nebulization (USN) are included.;The first area of research described is the comparison of USN to FSApT. In Chapter ;The final area of research is devoted to the development of a thermospray system capable of efficiently nebulizing sample flow rates up to 10 mL/min. Chapter...