Assessment of the effects of source noise in inductively coupled plasma Fourier transform spectrometry

P. J. Hobbs, Dominic E. M. Spillane, Richard D. Snook, Anne P. Thorne

Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry · 1988 · 13 citations · 0 references

Concepts

Abstract

Multiplicative noise arising from the nebulisation process in inductively coupled plasma Fourier transform spectrometry (ICP-FTS) is shown to degrade the signal to noise ratio in Fourier transform spectra. The effect of concommitant elements which result in either a single strong line (Mg) or several weak lines (Fe) is studied for the determination of Mn in a spectral band pass of 240–300 nm. The effect of uranium on the determination of Fe is also studied. The concentration dependence of detection limits in ICP-FTS is demonstrated and the effects of increasing resolution on the observed signal to noise ratios is discussed.