High-Sensitivity and High-Speed Single-Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry with the Conical Torch.

Significant advancement has been achieved in single-particle analysis with the new conical ICP torch in terms of sensitivity, precision, and throughput. Monodisperse desolvated particles of eight elements (Na, Al, Ag, Sr, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Be) were injected into the conical torch, and signal peak characteristics, precision, and kinetics of atomization and ionization were investigated with optical spectrometry. A particle introduction system was designed to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted delivery of desolvated particles to the plasma.