Arc
Higher Temperature Lower interelement interference Single set of excitation conditions can excite multiple elements Permit low detection limits for refractory complexes Larger linear range Can directly measure hard to measure samples
Flame
Simpler, less expensive instrumentation Lower operating costs Greater reproducibility
Plasma (def.) Electrically conducting gaseous mixture containing significant concentrations of cations and electrons ICP and DCP
Inductively coupled means that the plasma is generated due to differences in the magnetic field and currents Temp. very hot (40008000K) Good & bad
Plasma forms by bringing graphite and W electrodes in contact with one another Temp @ core 10,000K in viewing region 5000K
DCP is an order of magnitude less sensitive than ICP Similar reproducibilities DCP requires less Ar
Auxillary power less expensive in DCP Graphite electrode must be replaced every couple of hours
Plasma sources offer significantly better quantitative data than do other flame emission sources - High stability - Low noise - Low background - Freedom from interferences
Bkgd.Correction Harder to do
Operator Skill
Bkgd.Correction Harder to do Prec. & Accuracy Unskilled better Same for skilled
Operator Skill
Bkgd.Correction Harder to do Prec. & Accuracy Unskilled better Same for skilled
Interferences
Spectral interferences corrected Chemical interferences in AES on AE (flame) bad, plasma eliminated
Detection limit
Operator Skill
Bkgd.Correction Harder to do Prec. & Accuracy Unskilled better Same for skilled
Interferences
Spectral interferences corrected Chemical interferences in AES on AE (flame) bad, plasma eliminated
Detection limit Flame some metals better on AA Plasma comparable to than AES flame for some metals, other metals plasma better
excellent excellent
excellent excellent
excellent excellent
moderate high
Spectral low Interferences Precision & Accuracy Better for unskilled Same skilled
moderate high
Costs
Spectral low Interferences Precision & Accuracy Better for unskilled Same skilled $$
moderate high
Costs
moderate moderate