Radial, Axial or Dual View ICP:

Which Do You Choose?

Manny Almeida
Teledyne Leeman Labs, Inc.
Hudson, NH 03031
Manuel.Almeida@Teledyne.com
 Teledyne Leeman Labs, Inc.
■ US based manufacturer of Elemental Analysis instruments
― Located in Hudson, NH
― Manufacturing elemental analyzers for 30 years
■ Instruments Manufactured
― Hydra II and QuickTrace Series of Mercury Analyzers
o Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption (CVAA)
o Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence (CVAF)
o Solid Mercury Analyzer (Hydra II C)
― Prodigy DC Arc
o Elemental Analysis of Solid Samples
― Prodigy7 and Prodigy Series ICP-OES
o Elemental Analysis of Liquid Samples
 Teledyne Leeman Labs, Inc.

Prodigy7 ICP

Prodigy DC-Arc

Hydra and QuickTrace

Mercury Analyzers

Prodigy ICP
Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES)

■ A multi-element technique that uses a high

temperature plasma to excite atoms so they emit
wavelength-specific photons of light, characteristic of
each element.
■ The number of photons produced is directly related to
the concentration of that element in the sample
■ ICPs consist of
― An Optical System
― RF Power Supply
― Sample Introduction System
 Plasma Views
■ Modern ICPs are available in three viewing
configurations:
― Radial
― Axial
― Dual View
■ Each view has advantages and disadvantages
 Radial ICP
■ Original ICP View
■ Sometimes called “Vertical”
or “Side-On” Plasma
■ Accommodates all ICP
matrices
■ Detection Limits similar to
Flame AA
■ Better for Refractory Si, Ti,
B, W, Mo
■ Can analyze S, P and
Halogens
 Radial ICP

Molecules (YO)

Plasma Viewed Ions (Y+)

Atoms (Y)
Characteristics of Dedicated Radial Viewing
■ Wide dynamic range
■ Low to high concentrations
■ Fewer dilutions compared to AA
■ Excellent tolerance to dissolved solids
■ 33% NaCl
■ Excellent torch lifetimes
■ Negligible Easily Ionized Element (EIE) effects
■ Na affects K
■ Radial detection limits
 Axial ICP
■ Sometimes called a
“Horizontal Plasma”
■ Useful analysis in many
different sample matrices
■ Excellent Detection Limits
■ Has certain limitations
■ Matrix Interferences
■ Na and K can have problems
■ The solution complicates sample
preparation
 Axial ICP

Plasma Viewed

Longer Path Length = Greater sensitivity

 Why Axial ICP Works:

■ Signal is proportional to the path length

■ When viewing axially, the spectrometer observes only the
central channel of the plasma (containing the analyte signal),
blocking out the outer (high background) region
■ This enhancement in signal-to-noise ratio provides 5-20x
better improvement in detection limits.
Signal measured
here
 Characteristics of Dedicated Axial
Viewing
■ ~10x better DLs than Radial
■ Dynamic range shifts lower
■ Less tolerant to dissolved solids than radial
■ Torch lifetimes shorter than radial
■ Torch longer than radial design

■ Potential EIE effects

 Dual View ICP
■ Combines both Radial and
Axial Views in one
instrument
■ Sensitivity of Axial ICP
― Better Detection Limits
■ Sample Versatility of Radial
ICP
― Freedom from matrix
effects
■ Provides Tremendous
Comfort Factor
― The right view for any
sample
Dual View
 Dual View - Axial View
Dual View – Radial View
Entrance to Instrument

Plasma

Torch
Source Mirror Mirror
 Dual View - Radial View
Dual View – Axial View
Entrance to Instrument

Plasma

Torch
Source Mirror Mirror
Dual View
Radial length
torch used
 Characteristics of Dual View
■ ~10x better DLs than radial
■ Very wide dynamic range if using both views
■ dynamic range shifts lower with axial view

■ Tolerance to dissolved solids similar to that of dedicated axial

■ Torch lifetimes shorter
■ Torch longer than radial design
■ Slots or hole to get radial view

■ EIE effects of dedicated axial can be eliminated by using radial

view of DV option
■ Samples are only analyzed once
■ Axial and radial view
Dynamic Range and Detection Limit
 Which View Is Best for You?

■ To decide which is the best fit for your application,

the following questions need to be considered:
― What are your sample types?
― What are the concentration ranges in your samples?
― Do you need to determine any of the Alkali
Elements?
 Which View Is Best for You?
What are your sample types?

Aqueous Axial, Radial, Dual View

Organic Axial, Radial, Dual View
High Dissolved Solids Radial, Dual View
 Which View Is Best for You?
What are the concentration ranges in your samples?
ppb Axial, Dual View
ppm Radial
ppb- ppm Axial, Dual View
ppm - % Radial
ppb - % Dual View
 Which View Is Best for You?
Do you need to determine any of the Alkali Elements?

Li
Na No – Axial, Radial
K
Rb Yes – Radial, Dual
Cs View
Some Examples

25
Wear Metals in Oil
■ What are your sample Radial
types?
■ Organic
■ What are the
concentration ranges?
■ ppm
■ Alkali Elements?
■ Yes

26
 Wear Metals in Oils – typical results
Measured Certificate % Recovery
Measured Certificate % Recovery
Ag 31.1 31.7 98.1
Mo 32.4 31.9 101.6
Al 12.2 11.8 103.4
Na 41.1 42.2 97.4
B 107 102.4 104.5
Ni 6.5 5.9 109.6
Ba 1045 1037 100.8
P 965.9 984 98.2
Ca 2804 2832 99.0
Pb 20.9 21.8 95.9
Cd 12.7 12.3 103.3
Sb 68 67.3 101.0
Cr 4.0 3.7 108.1
Si 43.5 45.1 96.5
Cu 22.6 22.6 100.0
Sn 8.9 8.9 99.7
Fe 122 119 102.6
Ti 7.4 7.1 104.2
K 20.5 20.4 100.5
V 42.8 42.5 100.7
Mg 500 490 102.0
Zn 1007 988 101.9
Mn 8.6 8.2 104.9
27
Soils (6010c)
■ What are your sample Dual View
types?
■ Aqueous
■ What are the
concentration ranges?
■ ppb - %
■ Alkali Elements?
■ Yes

28
 NIST 2709 San Joaquin
Concentration Found,
Element RSD Median Value, mg/kg Range, mg/kg
mg/kg
As 16.5 1.5 <20
Ba 406 0.24 398 392 - 400
Cd 0.85 3.2 <1
Co 12.6 0.66 12 10.0- 15.0
Cr 69.52 0.34 79 60 - 115
Cu 27.84 0.30 32 26 - 40
Mn 465.3 0.30 470 360 - 600
Ni 70.2 0.32 78 65 - 90
Pb 13.5 3.8 13 12.0 - 18.0
Sb 4.7 5.3 <10
Se ND - 0.014
V 52.7 0.34 62 51 - 70
Zn 95 0.41 100 87 - 120
Al 2.75 % 0.40 2.6 2.0 - 3.1
Ca 1.61 % 0.27 1.5 1.4 - 1.7
Fe 2.72 % 0.28 3 2.5 - 3.3
K 0.314 % 0.34 0.32 0.26 - 0.37
Mg 1.35 % 0.38 1.4 1.2 - 1.5
Na 0.076% 0.35 0.068 0.063 - 0.11
 Wastewater (200.7)
■ What are your sample Dual View
types?
■ Aqueous
■ What are the
concentration ranges?
■ ppb - ppm
■ Alkali Elements?
■ Yes

30
 Wastewater (200.7)
NIST 1640a NIST 1640a

Element Measured Certified Eleme

%Rec Measured Certified
Conc (µg/L) Conc (µg/L) nt %Rec
Conc (µg/L) Conc (µg/L)

Ag 7.88 8.081 97.5 Mn 40.49 40.39 100.2

Al 43.71 53 82.5 Mo 43.28 45.6 94.9
As 6.94 8.075 85.9 Na 3097.5 N/A ---
B 294.0 303.1 97.0 Ni 26.41 25.32 104.3
Ba 153.1 151.8 100.8 P <MDL N/A ---
Be 2.89 3.026 95.4 Pb 10.23 12.101 84.6
Ca 5522.4 N/A --- Sb 4.57 5.105 89.5
Cd 3.76 3.992 94.2 Se 20.40 20.13 101.3
Co 20.82 20.24 102.9 Si 4907.1 N/A ---
Cr 37.76 40.54 93.1 Sn <MDL N/A ---
Cu 84.75 85.75 98.8 Sr 113.3 126.03 89.9
Fe 34.98 36.8 95.1 Ti <MDL N/A ---
K 669.0 N/A --- Tl --- <MDL ---
Li 2.43 N/A --- V 16.25 15.05 133.4
Mg 991.3 N/A --- Zn 53.23 55.64 95.7
 Wastewater (200.7)
■ What are your sample Radial
types?
■ Aqueous
■ What are the
concentration ranges?
■ ppm
■ Alkali Elements?
■ Yes

32
 Wastewater (200.7)
ELEMENT FOUND CERTIFIED
(µg/L) (µg/L)

ELEMENT
Ag 102 106
Al 380 375
As 182 181
B 223 219
Ba 645 638
Be 191 194
Cd 112 113
Co 688 694
Cr 409 403
Cu 415 425
Fe 655 631
Mn 106 106
Mo 203 205
Ni 545 531
Pb 736 719
Sb 211 219
Se 192 188
Sr 724 713
Tl 96.2 95.6
V 153 156
Zn 551 544
 Conclusion
■ One view type doesn’t fit all applications
― Look at advantages and disadvantage of each configuration
― Level of operator expertise
■ To determine the one right for your application consider:
― Sample type
― Concentration ranges
― Elements determined