Sensitivity improvement in ICP MS analysis of fuels and light petroleum matrices using a microflow nebulizer and heated spray chamber sample introduction.

Reasons for signal suppression during the analysis of light petroleum matrices by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS) were examined. A decrease of the ionization efficiency of the plasma was found to be the principal factor responsible for this loss of sensitivity. Consequently, an interface based on a total consumption micronebulizer and a heated spray chamber was constructed to alleviate this problem. A method based on flow-injection ICP MS using this interface was developed for the direct multielement analysis of undiluted fuels (gasoline, kerosene) and gas condensates offering an increase in sensitivity by at least a factor of 3-4 in comparison with the existing setups.