SBIR Phase I: Novel Sample Introduction Technique for ICP-MS/AES Using A NanomiserTM Device for Spray Formation

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将开发一种方法，使用一种对现有电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)和原子发射光谱(AES)技术进行改进的新仪器，来降低砷的实际定量水平。用纳米进样器取代了电感耦合等离子体质谱和电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱仪中使用的标准进样雾化器和喷雾室。因此，降低了砷和其他元素的检测下限。Nanomiser能够实现溶剂/分析物混合物的非常精细的雾化，并对尺寸进行特殊控制，同时保持较窄的粒度分布。到目前为止的结果表明，这项突破性技术导致了平均直径在亚微米到微米范围内的单分散气溶胶的产生。此外，这项技术提供了较长的停留时间(由于载气速度低且可独立控制)，这与较小的颗粒尺寸一起，是充分热蒸发和解离气溶胶颗粒的主要要求之一。气流和雾化的独立性将通过允许更长的等离子体停留时间来显著增加具有较高一次电离能的元素的电离，例如砷。发展一种可靠的进样技术可以显著提高传统原子光谱分析系统的检测下限。此外，Nanomiser设备的小尺寸和紧凑设计将使这项技术能够与主要仪器制造商合作，轻松地改装到现有的AES和MS系统中。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop a method to lower the practical quantitation level of arsenic using a novel instrumental improvement to existing Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Atomic Emission Spectrometry (AES) techniques. by replacing the standard sample introduction nebulizer and spray chamber used in ICP-MS and ICP-AES with the Nanomiser. device and thus lower the detection limit of arsenic and other elements. The Nanomiser enables very fine atomization of solvent/analyte mixtures with exceptional control over size, while maintaining a narrow size distribution. Results to date show that this breakthrough technology leads to the generation of a monodisperse aerosol with a mean diameter in the sub-micron to micron-range. Furthermore, this technology provides high residence time (due to low and independently controlled carrier gas velocity), which is, together with the small particle size, one of the main requirements for adequate thermal evaporation and dissociation of aerosol particles. The independence of gas flow and atomization will help to significantly increase the ionization of elements with higher first ionization energies, such as arsenic, by allowing for longer residence time in the plasma. The development of a reliable sample introduction technology can significantly improve the detection limits of conventional systems for atomic spectroscopy. Furthermore, the small size and compact design of the Nanomiser device will allow this technology to be easily retrofitted into existing AES and MS systems in collaboration with major instrument manufacturers.