100% efficient sub-nanoliter sample introduction in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma spectrometry: implications for ultralow sample volumes.

Recently, nanoflow nebulizers with low-volume drain-free spray chambers became available for inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry application for analysis of very small sampling volumes. The present technical note reports on a different approach for 100% efficient subnanoliter sample introduction, the application of monodisperse piezoelectric microdroplet dispensers which generate 40-50 microm droplets with high reproducibility if nozzles of 30 microm diameter are applied. The droplets having volumes below 0.1 nL can be introduced loss-free and without plasma loading, with frequencies up to approximately 100 Hz into analytical plasmas. In this technical note, the analytical figures of merit of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry with single droplet introduction are reported using Ca and Au standard solutions as examples. Future engineering is required to reduce the total sample volumes from the relatively large sample reservoir of the current study, thereby reducing potential issues of washout while enabling analysis of ultralow total sample volumes.

Diode laser differential absorption spectrometry for measurements of some parameters of condensed media.

A method of diode laser differential absorption spectrometry (DLDAS) is proposed. The method is based on the detection of absorption spectra variations caused by the changes of a parameter of a condensed media (temperature, composition of the components of a mixture, pH, etc.). Some simple theoretical background of the proposed technique is presented. The potentialities of the method are demonstrated in the experiments on remote contactless measurement of the temperature of aqueous solutions and measurement of the deviations of the composition of a mixture of dyes from the equilibrium state.

Element selective detection of molecular species applying chromatographic techniques and diode laser atomic absorption spectrometry.

Tunable diode laser atomic absorption spectroscopy (DLAAS) combined with separation techniques and atomization in plasmas and flames is presented as a powerful method for analysis of molecular species. The analytical figures of merit of the technique are demonstrated by the measurement of Cr(VI) and Mn compounds, as well as molecular species including halogen atoms, hydrogen, carbon and sulfur.

[Measurement of uranium isotope ratio in solid sample by laser ablation and double-beam diode laser atomic absorption].

The 235U/238U isotope ratio was determined by diode laser atomic absorption spectrometry in a plasma induced by a Nd:YAG laser. Two diode lasers, which probed almost the same plasma volume, were used as light sources. 235U and 238U absorption signals were simultaneously measured by tuning the diode lasers to the absorption lines 682.6736 nm and 682.0768 nm, respectively. The optimal focus position for the Nd:YAG laser was found to be 0.4 cm below the sample surface. The precision and accuracy of 235U/238U isotope ratio determination were obtained to be 5% and 2%, respectively. The detection limit of the 235U isotope, evaluated on the basis of 3sigma criteria, was estimated to be 18 microg x g(-1). All these results show an improvement compared with the method in which only one diode laser was used as a light source.

Laser ablation--reflections on a very complex technique for solid sampling.

This paper is an attempt to point out the complex correlations between the experimental conditions in solid sampling by lasers. In particular, the influence of the laser properties, the surrounding gas, and the matrix on the analytical results of laser ablation techniques, such as laser induced breakdown spectrometry or laser ablation-ICP-MS, will be discussed.

The effect of oxytocin, prostaglandin E2 and acetylsalicylic acid on flow distribution and on the transfer of alanine, glucose and water in isolated perfused guinea pig placentae.

The influence of oxytocin (OXY), sulproston (SUL) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on L-alanine- (ALA), D-glucose- (GLU) or water- (H(2)O) uptake (maternal side) in the isolated perfused guinea pig placenta was investigated. Uptake was measured with a single injection, paired tracer dilution method. 'T50' values were derived from venous concentration curves (extracellular marker) as the distance (sec) between two concentration values at 50 per cent of peak concentration. T50 values were regarded to reflect the change of flow distribution on the maternal side. On average, there was a significant apparent inhibition of GLU uptake (by 27.2 per cent from control values) by OXY as well as of ALA uptake by OXY (26. 0 per cent), by ASA (56.6 per cent), and by SUL (56.7 per cent). The respective mean T50 values decreased significantly in the above groups by 15.9 per cent, 18.7 per cent (ns), 42.2 per cent and 56.7 per cent. However, it was not possible to generate dose-response curves whereas significant correlations of uptake values with T50 values were found. There was no dose-response relationship between T50 values and OXY or ASA concentrations but decreased mean T50 values were found. For SUL a weak correlation of T50 and SUL concentration was found. The r -value of GLU uptake and T50 was 0.57, for H(2)O uptake this value was 0.70, for ALA uptake the r -values were 0.51 (OXY), 0.35 (SUL) and 0.31 (ASA). Correlation of uptake and concentrations were not significant. We conclude that the 'inhibitory' effects of OXY, ASA and probably SUL on placental transfer are unspecific and the consequence of flow shifts from the placental exchange area to the uterine muscle.

Chlorine analysis by diode laser atomic absorption spectrometry.

The general characteristics of Diode Laser Absorption Spectrometry (DLAAS) in low pressure plasmas particularly with respect to the detection of non-metals are comprehensively recapitulated and discussed. Furthermore, a detector, which is based on DLAAS in a microwave-induced low pressure plasma as an alternative technique for halogene-specific analysis of volatile compounds and polymeric matrices is described. The analytical capability of the technique is demonstrated on the chlorine-specific analysis of ablated polymer fragments as well as gas chromatographically separated hydrocarbons. Since the measurements were carried out by means of a balanced-heterodyne detection scheme, different technical noise contributions, such as laser excess and RAM noise could efficiently be suppressed and the registered absorption was limited only by the principal shot noise. Thus, in the case of the polymer analysis a chlorine-specific absolute detection limit of 10 pg could be achieved. Furthermore, fundamental investigations concerning the influence of hydrocarbons on the dissociation capability of the microwave induced plasma were performed. For this purpose, the carbon-, chlorine- and hydrogen-specific stoichiometry of the compounds were empirically determined. Deviations from the expected proportions were found to be insignificant, implying the possibility of internal standardization relative to the response of a reference sample.

Speciation of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode laser atomic absorption spectrometry.

Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) is a fuel additive that has been marketed for use in unleaded gasoline since December 1995. The widespread use of this additive has been suggested to cause health risks, but limitations in data regarding its degradation products and their toxicity prevent an accurate evaluation. To monitor the organomanganese compounds, it is clearly advantageous to employ low-cost, high-sensitivity, manganese-specific instrumentation to perform speciation. In this work, instrumentation fitting these criteria was obtained by the combination of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode laser atomic absorption spectrometry (DLAAS) and was used to determine MMT, its nonmethylated derivative, cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (CMT), and inorganic manganese. DLAAS was shown to be a versatile analytical technique for total Mn determination, with a detection limit of 1 ng/mL and a linear dynamic range (LDR) of almost 5 orders of magnitude. Analytical figures of merit for HPLC-DLAAS included a detection limit of 2 ng(as Mn)/mL, a LDR of 3 orders of magnitude, and an analysis time of three minutes. The organometallic compounds are characterized by rapid photolysis in sunlight, and hence, experiments were performed to evaluate whether normal laboratory lighting is suitable for their determination. Our results showed that normal laboratory protocols may be employed except that the organomanganese compounds should be stored away from light except during sample introduction procedures. The ability of the instrumentation to selectively preconcentrate organomanganese compounds while removing inorganic manganese was demonstrated. Sufficient resolution was obtained to determine a 20-fold excess of CMT compared with MMT. The ability of the system to do practical analysis was demonstrated by the accurate determination of MMT in spiked samples of gasoline, human urine, and tap water. These results demonstrate the suitability of HPLC-DLAAS for the speciation of MMT and its derivatives in industrial, toxicological, and environmental samples.

Metal Speciation in the ppt Range by HPLC and Diode Laser Atomic Absorption Spectrometry in a Flame.

A simple, compact, and powerful instrument for metal speciation in the ppt range is described. The instrument includes a HPLC module for separation and a diode laser for element-selective detection by wavelength modulation absorption spectrometry in an analytical flame. The high detection power for metal species is due to a two-beam arrangement with logarithmic amplification of the normalized signal, which compensates the laser residual amplitude modulation noise, the offset, and its fluctuation. The analytical figures of merit are demonstrated by measurements of very low concentrations of Cr(VI) in tap water.

Optical emission spectrometry and laser-induced fluorescence of laser produced sample plumes.

The ablation and atomization process of solid samples into a buffer gas by pulsed laser radiation is discussed and the optimum conditions for elemental analysis by optical emission spectrometry and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) are described. Pulsed tunable dye lasers are used for LIF measurements. Improved LIF detection limits for some elements are reported. The physical processes which limit the detection of elements in the laser produced sample plume are discussed and theoretical estimates of relative detection limits are compared to the experimental results. Calibrations of LIF data by internal standardization are demonstrated with metallic and borax glass matrices.