The book starts with a detailed description of ICP-MS, including quadruple-based, sector-based and time-of-flight instruments. Instrumentation from existing manufacturers is described and compared to show their similarities and differences. Also, a review of the ICP-MS literature is carried out to outline both the strengths and limitations of the technique, whatever its brand, as well as what it can currently accomplish in terms of applications. Then, the book demonstrates how these limitations can be reduced and/or eliminated by combining various techniques with ICP-MS. Great detail is provided on each technique so that the reader can get a good understanding of it before carrying on to the instrumental requirements for its hyphenation to ICP-MS, and the resulting impact on the operation of the hyphenated instrument. Since this book is concerned with the ICP side only, which is fairly similar in all the instruments from the different manufacturers, the information should be useful to all ICP-MS users. The features and limitations of each technique are thoroughly discussed and illustrated with a review of the ICP-MS literature. Approaches which could be used but have not yet been tried with ICP-MS are also suggested. This is particularly true of flow injection techniques which are extremely flexible and have been used extensively in atomic spectroscopy and spectrophotometry. Many of the features of the technique have not yet been combined to ICP-MS, and one purpose of the book will be to point out potentially beneficial combinations.

Inductively coupled plasma atomic or mass spectrometry is one of the most common techniques for elemental analysis. Samples to be analyzed are usually in the form of solutions and need to be introduced into the plasma by means of a sample introduction system, so as to obtain a mist of very fine droplets. Because the sample introduction system can be a limiting factor in the analytical performance, it is crucial to optimize its design and its use. It is the purpose of this book to provide fundamental knowledge along with practical instructions to obtain the best out of the technique.
- Fundamental as well as practical character
- Troubleshooting section
- Flow charts with optimum systems to be used for a given application