Liquid Sample Introduction System and Method, for Analytical Plasma Spectrometer

A liquid sample introduction system for a plasma spectrometer, comprising:

• (a) a sample container for holding a liquid sample;
• (b) a surface acoustic wave (SAW) nebulizer, arranged to receive a liquid sample from the sample container, the SAW having a transducer disposed on a surface of the SAW nebulizer, and the SAW having a groove on the surface for holding the liquid sample;
• (c) an electronic controller for supplying electrical power to the SAW nebulizer so as to produce a surface acoustic wave on a surface of the SAW nebulizer, for generating an aerosol from the supplied sample liquid;
• and
• (d) an aerosol transport arrangement for receiving the aerosol from the SAW nebulizer and carrying it into a plasma or flame of a spectrometer;
• the electronic controller being further configured to control the electrical power to the SAW nebulizer so as to permit adjustment of the aerosol parameters, and to control the aerosol transport arrangement so as to permit adjustment of the aerosol delivery into the plasma or flame of the spectrometer.

A Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) nebulizer comprising:

• a substrate having a groove configured to hold a liquid sample;
• a transducer disposed on the substrate and configured to produce a surface acoustic wave on a surface of the substrate to generate an aerosol from the liquid sample;
• and
• a liquid sample transport arrangement disposed above the substrate and configured to provide the liquid sample to the groove.

A method of introducing a liquid sample into an analytical plasma spectrometer, comprising the steps of

• (i) supplying a liquid sample to a groove disposed on a surface acoustic wave (SAW) nebulizer;
• (ii) supplying electrical power to the SAW nebulizer on the surface so as to produce a surface acoustic wave on the surface of the SAW nebulizer, such that an aerosol is formed from the supplied liquid sample;
• and
• (iii) transporting the aerosol through an aerosol transport arrangement and into a plasma or torch of the analytical plasma spectrometer.