Patent ID: 7768639
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for improved inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) comprising: performing ICP-AES analysis on one or more known samples using an inductively coupled plasma, obtaining a calibration dataset comprising the light intensity at one or more selected wavelengths for a plurality of selected locations within said plasma; each said known sample comprising one or more sought-for analytes; said step of performing ICP-AES analysis on one or more known samples comprising performing ICP-AES analysis on a plurality of concentrations of each said sought-for analyte; said one or more selected wavelengths emitted by said one or more sought-for analytes; performing ICP-AES analysis on an unknown sample using said inductively coupled plasma, obtaining a first dataset comprising the light intensity at said one or more selected wavelengths for said plurality of selected locations within said plasma; determining a calibrated first dataset curve for each said selected wavelength in said first dataset using said calibration dataset; and determining inaccurate results based upon the variability of the calibrated first dataset curve for a selected wavelength from the plurality of selected wavelengths on location within said plasma.