Inductively coupled plasma atomic fluorescence spectrometer

A fluorescence spectrometer for multielement analysis of samples comprising:

• (a) a plasma stream for atomizing a dispersed sample and directed along a central axis;
• (b) an rf generator inductively coupled to said plasma stream for delivering a tuned and matched rf power to said plasma stream, said rf generator being operated at a low forward rf power sufficient to maintain a stable plasma stream;
• (c) a plurality of optical stations radially disposed about said central axis, each of said optical stations including an energizing illuminator and a fluorescence detector directed at the same region of said plasma stream, said fluorescence detector including means matched to the characteristic radiation of said energizing illuminator, said energizing illuminators and said fluorescence detectors mounted in an offset radial array about said central axis;
• and
• (d) a readout system coupled to said plurality of optical stations and including a multiplexer and means for intermittent modulation of said energizing illuminators.

A fluorescence spectrometer for time division multiplexing multielement analysis of samples comprising:

• (a) a sample introduction system for dispersing a sample solution including means to introduce a reducing agent into said sample solution;
• (b) a plasma stream for atomizing said dispersed sample solution and directed along a central axis, said plasma stream controlled by an inductively coupled radio frequency generator coupling energy into said plasma stream sufficient to cause said dispersed sample solution to populate the ground state of energy level of said sample;
• (c) a plurality of modules radially surrounding said central axis for irradiating said atomized sample and for detecting the consequent fluorescent emission from said irradiated atomized sample in said plasma stream, with each of said plurality of modules being replaceable and angularly adjustable relative said central axis;
• and
• (d) a readout system coupled to said plurality of modules and including a multiplexer and means for intermittently modulating said plurality of modules.