Emission spectrometers using an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) as the excitation source have various advantages over those using a conventional excitation source, and hence have come to be utilized more and more extensively.
The important features of the ICP are:
- Detection limit of ppb quantity level.
- No matrix effect.
- Wide measurable concentration range.
- High stability and reproducibility.
With these and many other advantages, ICP spectrometers are widely used; their application fields include elemental analysis for quality control, ultratrace element determination such as for environmental water quality monitoring, and major element determination such as for composition determination.
In order for an ICP spectrometer to get the maximum use of the above features, it is required that:
- The spectrometer provides high resolution over a wide wavelength range.
- Acidic/aqueous solution samples and organic solvent solution samples can be analyzed without addition or replacement of the units of the instrument.
- The RF generator, spectrometer, and gas flow control unit ensure high stability.
- Running cost is low.
- Ease and simplicity of operation are ensured through automation, and the data system provides a wide variety of data processing functions.
The Shimadzu ICPS-7510 is the latest, sequential, inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer designed to satisfy all of these requirements.
Large database and many software programs are readily available.
