Aerosol preconcentration on a liquid electrode.

ABSTRACT

Electrostatic preconcentration of a dried aerosol is achieved with a water electrode. The system is found to show similar trapping characteristics to those given by wire electrodes, but the subsequent introduction of collected material into a flame atomizer is easier, merely requiring aspiration of the electrode solution after the trapping cycle is complete. The system has been tested for some 40 elements, 5 of which failed to show any response. The failures are attributed to a vapour-phase reaction of the solution aerosol during its passage through the desolvation system, leading to formation of water-insoluble species.