Practical experience with the ETV-ICP-MS prototype

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the commercial instrumental connection of the electrothermal vaporization unit (ETV) GF 5000 and the inductively coupled plasma orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ICP-o-TOF-MS) Optimass 9500, both from the company GBC Scientific Equipment (Braeside, Australia). The prototype of the ETV unit was borrowed by the manufacturer for the purpose of its testing in the connection with the ICP-TOF-MS. Information on this technique instrumental arrangement has not been found in the literature yet. Therefore, the facts summarized in this paper are based mainly on our observations. The analytical performance of this technique achieved in our previous work is discussed and compared to competing spectrochemical methods. The attention was paid to the software and technical shortcomings observed within three years of working with this configuration. The influence of shortcomings of the instrument found during testing has been evaluated from the point of view of potential analytical applicability in its entirety and with respect to the economic impact on routine use.