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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2000  > May  >
Waters Symposium: Atomic Emission Spectroscopy
Invention of the Annular Inductively Coupled Plasma as a Spectroscopic Source
Stanley Greenfield
8 Trefusis Road, Flushing, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 5TY, UK
Cover
May 2000
Vol. 77 No. 5
p. 584
Abstract
This paper shows how experiments with electrical discharges from the 18th century onward led to their use as sources in atomic spectroscopy and how the invention of the annular inductively coupled plasma (ICP) some 30 years ago arose from the need to solve a problem that necessitated the use of a high-temperature source. The search for such a source followed a fairly logical pattern involving dc plasma jets and an ICP such as had been used by T. B. Reed for crystal growing. The ellipsoidal plasma used by Reed was not entirely suitable as a spectroscopic source, since the analytical sample either mixed with the plasma gases or passed around the plasma, resulting in matrix effects and a diminution in the emission. It is shown how suitable modification of the plasma torch with attention to gas flows made it possible to produce an annular or tunnel plasma through which the sample aerosol could be passed, resulting in an annular ICP with greatly improved spectroscopic properties. The further refinements to the source and ancillary equipment are also discussed.
More Information
*  Citation
 Greenfield, Stanley. J. Chem. Educ. 2000 77 584.
*  Keywords
 Atomic Spectroscopy; Instrumental Methods; Laboratory Equipment / Apparatus; Qualitative Analysis; Quantitative Analysis; UV-Vis Spectroscopy; Analytical Chemistry
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 March 31, 2000
April 15, 2005
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