Direct Analysis of Solid Metal

About

Direct ambient analysis of solid metal samples ID:  2016-019 Principal Investigator:  Paul Farnsworth A plasma ionization source that can be used to directly analyze what types of elements exist in a solid metal sample. This invention involves atmospheric pressure AC gloe discharge for the direct ambient analysis of solid metal samples using hydrogen-doped argon as the plasma gas. The primary advantages of this invention include: It allows elemental analysis by direct sampling of solid, conductive materials with minimal sample preparation It provides information about the isotopic composition of the sample It has the potential of being a simple, inexpensive addition to an existing mass spectrometer. The principle disadvantage of the technique as it has developed so far is that the quantitative accuracy is poor. We have developed simple prototypes and are continuing efforts to refine them and improve their analytical performance. About the Market: This ionization source could be useful to anyone interested in performing rapid elemental analysis of a solid material with little or no sample preparation. Instrument manufacturers may be interested in this invention either as the basis for a new instrument or as an accesory to existing mass spectrometers.