Apparatus and method for liquid sample introduction

摘要

A method and apparatus for mixing droplets of liquid sample and droplets of a diluent and/or a standard produced by droplet-on-demand generators for use with an analysis device. Two different liquids may be introduced to an analysis device for simultaneous analysis. The method comprises using a first droplet-on­ demand generator (550) to provide a first stream of droplets of a first liquid; using a second droplet-on-demand generator (551) to provide a second stream of droplets of a second liquid; and combining the first and second streams of droplets before they enter the analysis device. The first and second streams of droplets may be combined with a gas stream e.g. an inert gas. The analysis device may be an atomic absorption spectrometer, an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer or a mass spectrometer.