A computer-assisted metal analyser using flow injection coupled with direct current plasma–optical emission spectroscopy

An automated routine method was developed for the determination of trace metals using a flow injection system into a direct current plasma spectrometer. The characteristic emission in the ‘Spectra- Metrics’ three-electrode jet is channelled through an echelle grating to the detector of the instrument. The emission signal is continuously recorded, and, after digitalization, calculated and recorded by a Touchstone software package and interface card. The software has facilities for recording peaks, generating calibration curves, calculating and printing results, enhancing line sensitivities, monitoring signal response and for filter noise, recalibration, background correction, status monitoring and general diagnostics. Up to 70 elements can be determined both in aqueous and non-aqueous media.