Nebulizers, Spray Chambers and Torches

Spray Chambers

Assorted spray chambers

The basic designs that have remained over the years are the Scott double-pass and the Cyclonic. To review the designs of these two components, see Figures 8 & 9 in Robert Thomas' article:

• A Beginner's Guide to ICP-MS - Part II: The Sample-Introduction System

The Cyclonic design is relatively new but is very popular. The purpose of the spray chamber is to remove droplets produced by the nebulizer that are > 8µm in diameter. Considerations include the wash-in-time, washout time, stability, and sensitivity. The drainage characteristics are important in part due to pressure changes that may occur during drainage. It is important that the drainage process be smooth and continuous. The analyst may observe faster washout times with the Cyclonic design. The chamber material of construction as well as the sample matrix and the chemistry of the element will influence the washout time. In addition, the analyst may observe faster washout times with glass construction than with polymers. This is due in part to better wet ability of the glass (lack of beading). Both designs are excellent and the analysts may wish to experiment with each to determine which yields the best performance for their specific analyses.

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