US-Malaysia Cooperative Research: Elemental Analysis of Geological Materials by Glow Discharge Methods

该提案要求资金允许威拉德W。 佛罗里达大学化学系哈里森， 和大学化学系Tong Soo Loong博士 在24个月的时间里， 元素分析合作研究 用辉光放电法研究地质材料。 他们将 研究辉光放电作为原子化，激发， 固体元素分析用电离源 质谱和原子发射。 这项研究将 以地质资料审查为中心， 用各种基质将它们压实。 他们将 研究样品制备程序和 作为基体和等离子体改性剂的吸气剂 反应性气体 比较将由光谱 干扰和替代放电气体将是 比较，以确定其使用的任何结果优势 在辉光放电源中。 几种重要的分析技术可以有利地 利用辉光放电的特性。 固体 样品可直接处理，无需样品 解散 辉光放电，一般来说，是一个简单的， 双电极装置，充满稀有气体，通常 氩气，在低压下。 待分析样品形成 阴极。 当电流通过 在该装置中，形成氩离子，撞击样品， 并将原子溅射到等离子体中。 碰撞过程 随后激发和激发溅射的 中性原子 然后，可以通过以下方法来研究电离物质： 各种光谱技术。 在研究中， 合作者将解决几个遇到的问题， 使用辉光放电来分析地质样品。 合作者都是德高望重的科学家， 过去的合作是富有成效的。 这个项目是 与科学促进发展目标相关的问题 国家方案，旨在提高 美国科学家和工程师及其 发展中国家的对应机构通过交流 科学信息、思想、技能和技术 并通过在互利问题上的合作。

This proposal requests funds to permit Dr. Willard W. Harrison, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, and Dr. Tong Soo Loong, Department of Chemistry, University of Malaya, to pursue, for a period of 24 months, cooperative research on the elemental analysis of geological materials by glow discharge methods. They will study the glow discharge as an atomization, excitation, and ionization source for the elemental analysis of solids by mass spectroscopy and atomic emission. The research will center on the examination of geological materials by compacting them with a variety of host matrices. They will study sample preparation procedures and the effect of getter agents as matrix and plasma modifiers to scavenge reactive gases. Comparisons will be made of spectral interferences, and alternative discharge gases will be compared to determine any resultant advantages to their use in glow discharge sources. Several important analytical techniques can advantageously utilize the characteristics of a glow discharge. Solid samples can be handled directly without the need for sample dissolution. The glow discharge, in general, is a simple two-electrode device, filled with a rare gas, usually argon, at low pressure. The sample to be analyzed forms the cathode. When an electric current is passed through the device, argon ions are formed, impact upon the sample, and sputter atoms into the plasma. Collision processes subsequently excite and ionize fractions of the sputtered neutral atoms. The ionized matter may then be studied by various spectrometric techniques. In their research, the collaborators will address several problems encountered in using the glow discharge to analyze geological samples. The collaborators are highly respected scientists whose past association has been productive. This project is relevant to the objectives of the Science in Developing Countries Program which seeks to increase the level of cooperation between U.S. scientists and engineers and their counterparts in developing countries through the exchange of scientific information, ideas, skills, and techniques and through collaboration on problems of mutual benefit.