Simultaneous multielement detection in particle beam/hollow cathode-optical emission spectroscopy

Presented here is the development of a particle beam/hollow cathode-optical emission spectroscopy source that has been interfaced with a high resolution polychromator for use as a species-specific detector for chromatographic separations. Use of the high resolution JY RF-5000 polychromator allows simultaneous, multielement analysis; a necessary requirement for comprehensive speciation analysis. Parametric optimization was performed for the nebulization conditions, desolvation temperature, glow discharge current and pressure, and the source block temperature (vaporization) using nitrate salts containing lead, nickel, and silver. Peak area, height, and width were recorded for optical emission of Pb (I) 220.35 nm, Ni (I) 341.41 nm, and Ag (I) 338.28 nm in order to determine optimal peak characteristics under chromatographic separation conditions. Response curves for a multielement salt solution containing Pb, Ni, and Ag were obtained using the optimized conditions, with detection limits for triplicate injections of 2.2, 0.17, and 0.19 ng, respectively. The ability to monitor multiple elements simultaneously reveals the existence of interelement matrix effects that have not been noted previously in hollow cathode devices. The ability to monitor metals and non-metals is demonstrated towards the future application of this system as a tool for metallomic studies.