Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Principle

The ICP torch consists of three concentric quartz tubes with flowing argon gas. A Tesla coil spark ionizes the argon, creating ions and electrons that interact with a fluctuating magnetic field from a water-cooled radio-frequency induction coil. This interaction produces ohmic heating, forming a high-temperature argon plasma with a brilliant white core and flame-like tail.

A concentric glass nebulizer uses high-velocity argon gas and the Bernoulli effect to transport the sample and form fine droplets that enter the plasma. Alternatively, electrothermal vaporization vaporizes the sample in a furnace, and an argon stream carries the vaporized sample into the plasma for analysis.

The argon plasma in inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy instrumentation creates a chemically inert environment that prevents refractory oxide formation. This inert atmosphere prolongs the analyte's lifetime in the plasma, allowing more complete atomization and reducing chemical interferences during elemental analysis.

The ICP source maintains a relatively uniform temperature cross-section throughout the plasma. This uniform distribution reduces self-absorption and self-reversal effects, which occur when cooler plasma regions absorb emission from hotter regions. This minimizes spectroscopic interferences and improves measurement accuracy significantly.

Axially viewed plasma is horizontally oriented and ideal for high-sensitivity analyses, featuring a cooled cone interface that prevents optics from viewing the cooler plasma tail, reducing interferences. Radially viewed plasma is vertically oriented and suitable for challenging applications like oils, organic solvents, and high total dissolved solids solutions.

The ICP source offers numerous advantages including chemically inert atomization, uniform temperature distribution, linear calibration curves over wide concentration ranges, and significant ionization. These characteristics make it an excellent choice for atomic emission spectroscopy and ICP-MS applications, providing reliable elemental analysis.

Isothermal contours depict the range of temperatures experienced by sample atoms in the plasma during their residence time before reaching the observation point. Understanding these temperature profiles helps explain why ICP provides more complete atomization and fewer chemical interferences compared to other plasma sources.