Simple, Inexpensive System for Controlled-Dispersion Flow Analysis in Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry

Abstract

An inexpensive peristaltic pump has been modified for computer control and coupled to a commercial autosampler to provide completely automated sample introduction and calibration via controlled-dispersion flow injection. Precision of 4.2% RSD can be achieved with an injection volume of 10 μL or larger. With this device, controlled-dispersion flow analysis was used for computer-controlled standard calibration of Ca+2 from a single concentrated sample; a dilution of 180-fold of a 10-μg/mL Ca+2 sample was readily achieved. Intelligent control of the system was also realized through the implementation of a LabVIEW software system on a Macintosh computer. Advantages of the new system are the benefit of simplicity and low cost for flow-injection analysis, a reduction in sample consumption, and the convenience of performing single-standard calibration.