Sample atomization with reduced clogging for analytical instruments

摘要

An aerosol is produced by flowing a liquid sample through a gas-assisted nebulizer. The liquid exits from an outlet into a coaxial flow of gas. The outlet includes a sharp edge that inhibits or prevents accumulation of precipitates from the liquid, thereby reducing or eliminating clogging, which is particularly useful for a samples containing high concentrations of dissolved particles. The aerosol may be introduced into a plasma such that molecules are broken into atoms. The atomization may be followed by an analysis such as by optical emission spectrometry or mass spectrometry.

主权项

1. A method for producing an aerosol from a liquid sample, comprising:
providing a nebulizer comprising a first nebulizer tube terminating at a first nebulizer outlet, and a second nebulizer tube coaxially surrounding the first nebulizer tube and terminating at a second nebulizer outlet; flowing a carrier gas through the second nebulizer tube; flowing the liquid sample through the first nebulizer tube such that the liquid sample becomes entrained in the carrier gas and is broken into droplets to form the aerosol; and flowing the aerosol out from the second nebulizer outlet, wherein: the liquid sample comprises a high concentration of dissolved salt or dissolved solid material; and the first nebulizer outlet comprises a sharp edge at which an inside diameter of the first nebulizer tube is substantially the same as an outside diameter of the first nebulizer tube, such that the sharp edge prevents accumulation of precipitates of salt or solid material at the first nebulizer outlet.