Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry is a form of mass spectrometry that employs inductively coupled plasma to ionize a sample. It atomizes the sample and forms atomic and small polyatomic ions which can then be detected.
ICP standards are used in ICP-OES, which is a trace-level, elemental analysis method that uses the emission spectra of a sample to recognize and quantify the elements present. The involved elements can be recognized by their characteristic emission lines and quantified by the intensity of the same lines. Trace analysis is often thought of as an analyte concentration low enough to cause challenges. The challenges may be caused by the sample size, matrix, or washout issues.
What Can be Done about Washout?
Washout refers to sample solution being removed from the sample introduction system during analysis. Ensuring that the previous sample has been completely removed before introducing the next sample for analysis will eliminate