Analytical Performance of Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometry Using Argon-Nitrogen Binary and Argon-Helium-Nitrogen Ternary Gas Mixture System

Analytical performance of mixed gas inductively coupled plasmas (ICP) of argon-nitrogen binary and argon-helium-nitrogen ternary system was investigated for seven elements (Mg, Ca, Ba, Zn, Cd, Fe, and Y) having different ionization potentials, to yield the following. (1) In argon-nitrogen mixed gas ICPs, one should select higher flow rates of the carrier gas than in the argon ICP to obtain the appropriate signal-to-background ratio (SBR). (2) The ternary mixed gas plasmas yield better operating conditions regarding the SBR, because helium suppresses any increase in the background level caused by the nitrogen addition.