Elemental Analysis of Organic Samples

摘要

A method of imaging analyte elements in an organic sample includes providing the sample as a layer on a substrate and reacting the sample on the substrate to produce one or more volatile products that leave the sample while the one or more elements remain in the sample. A majority of the sample layer by weight is removed from the substrate by the reaction and the remaining sample layer is enriched in the one or more elements which are not spatially disturbed by the reaction. The method including subsequently detecting the one or more elements in the concentrated sample layer using an imaging elemental analyzer.

主权项

1. A method of imaging one or more analyte elements in an organic sample, comprising:
providing the sample as a layer on a substrate; reacting the sample on the substrate to produce one or more volatile products that leave the sample and enter the gas phase, whilst the one or more analyte elements remain in the sample and are spatially disturbed by the reaction on average not more than the spatial resolution of the imaging analysis, whereby a majority of the sample layer by weight is removed from the substrate by the reaction and the remaining sample layer is enriched in the one or more analyte elements; and subsequently detecting the one or more analyte elements in the enriched sample layer using an imaging elemental analyzer.