Element-Specific Detection

Abstract

Spectroscopic methods like atomic emission spectrometry or inorganic mass spectrometry are known for their high sensitivity and selectivity. A very broad range of elements can be detected with these techniques up to ultra-trace concentrations. The detectors used for the high-resolution separation method, gas chromatography (GC), were limited by their sensitivity and selectivity (flame ionization detector [FID], thermal conductivity detector [TCD]) as well. Metals, metalloids and nonmetals like P, S, and halogens could not be analyzed satisfyingly with those detectors. Therefore, the coupling of GC with more efficient atomic emission and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers was promoted at the end of the 1980s. With the development of adapters connecting GC with the elemental specific detectors, today so-called ‘transfer line’, a vitally important building block was successfully applied.Based on these configurations, analytical methods and tools for speciation analysis of volatile metal and metalloid species as well as for numerous heteroatomic organicals found and find a broad interest and application to date.