Nonrefractory Slurries in the ICP: Size Control and Recovery

Abstract

Direct injection of slurries into plasmas for elemental analysis is a means by which sample preparation effort and time are minimized. Sample slurries must meet certain criteria if solutions are to be used for calibration. First, the analyte from the sample slurry must be physically transported into the plasma with the same efficiency as is the analyte from the calibrating solutions. Generally, this means that a slurry particle must be smaller than the droplet that transports it. Although there is some disagreement with respect to the maximum particle size that can be transported into the plasma, it is generally agreed that particles less than about 10 μm in diameter will be transported with virtually 100% efficiency.