Several studies have shown that the sensitivity
and detection limit of vapor-forming elements are greatly
improved when they are introduced into the plasma as vapors.
Additionally, it was also shown that appropriate vapor generation
conditions can be used to remove or separate the analyte from
problematic matrix species, which would otherwise cause spectral
and nonspectral interferences (Chen & Jiang, 2006; Hwang & Jiang,
1997). Vapor introduction in flow injection mode is a simple and
rapid technique that has been coupled to ICP-MS previously
(Abranko et al., 2003; Huang, Jiang, & Hwang, 1995; Tyson,
1990). In the present investigation, a simple, laboratory-built vapor
generation system is used as the sample introduction device for
flow injection ICP-MS.
The environmental pollution