Success with Evaporative Light-Scattering Detection

Abstract

Mobile-phase evaporation: The aerosol is introduced into a heated drift tube in which the mobile phase evaporates and leaves behind a particulate form of the target compound. Evaporation is in a heated zone, with a temperature set by users, and the useful temperature range is a matter of distinction between the various instruments on the market. Detection: Light striking the dried particles that exit the drift tube is scattered and the photons are detected by a photodiode or photomultiplier tube at a fixed angle from the incident light.3‐5 Theoretically, except for highly volatile analytes (e.g., ethanol in wine), most compounds can be detected. Furthermore, unlike optical absorption detectors, the detection sensitivity in ELSD is independent of the compound’s spectral properties and based approximately upon the absolute quantity of the compound.