FAST DIAS: Dual Inlet Aerosol Switching

Elemental Scientific MC-ICPMS

Authors: Paul Field (field@icpms.com)

Brief

A Dual Inlet Aerosol Switching (DIAS) system is used to alternate between sample and standard aerosol
streams. The balanced DIAS system practically eliminates uptake and washout time, greatly improving the
frequency of sample standard bracketing for mass bias correction.

Replicate 1 Minute Injections

Features:

• Rapid sample standard

bracketing

• Dual inlets

• Perfectly balanced spray

chambers and nebulizers

• Aerosol switching

• Minimal dead volume

• Temperature controlled

Figure 1. Ten replicate one minute injections (RSD < 0.63%) illustrate stability,
reproducibility, rapid uptake and complete washout during aerosol switching.

1
 Aerosol
MFC3 Addition Gas

Inlet 1 Inlet 2

MFC1 MFC2
Neb Gas 1 Neb Gas 2

PFA-ST PFA-ST
Nebulizer Waste Nebulizer

Wash Waste Waste Std

© 2014 Elemental Scientific

Figure 2. The DIAS schematic illustrates washing (2% HNO3) Inlet 1 while Inlet 2 is used to analyze standard.

5 min standard blank switching

Inlet 2 Inlet 1 Inlet 2 Inlet 1

Standard Blank Standard Blank
1,000,000 x Washout

Uptake

Switch Switch Switch

Valve Valve Valve
Figure 3. Switching the aerosol valve between Inlet 1 (Blank: 2% HNO3) and Inlet 2 (Standard: Hf)
demonstrates a 5 sec 1,000,000x washout to baseline and a 5 sec uptake to reach a stable signal.

2
Switching
MFC3 Addition Gas

Inlet 1 Inlet 2

MFC1 MFC2
Neb Gas 1 Neb Gas 2

PFA-ST PFA-ST
Nebulizer Waste Nebulizer

Sample Waste Waste Std

© 2014 Elemental Scientific

Figure 4. The DIAS schematic illustrates analyzing sample in Inlet 1 while a stable standard aerosol is maintained
in Inlet 2.

5 min standard sample switching

Inlet 2 Inlet 1 Inlet 2 Inlet 1
Standard Sample Standard Sample
& Washout
Uptake

Switch Switch Switch

Valve Valve Valve
Figure 5. Aerosol switching between Inlet 1 (Sample: Mo) and Inlet 2 (Standard: Hf) demonstrates 5 sec
transitions from stable sample to stable standard signals. Near elimination of uptake and washout times
greatly reduce time required for sample standard bracketing.

3
 Figure 6. Running Nd simultaneously in Inlet 1 and 2 indicates seamless switch between balanced inlets with
identical sensitivity.

Seamless transition in balanced DIAS

Constant Nd signal stability through switching

Inlet 1 Inlet 2 Inlet 1 Inlet 2 Inlet 1

Mo & Nd Hf & Nd Mo & Nd Hf & Nd Mo & Nd

Switch Switch Switch Switch

Valve Valve Valve Valve

5 sec
Nd signal constant
through inlet
switching
Benefits:

• Rapid uptake < 5 sec

stable signal stable signal
• Rapid washout < 5 sec 1,000,000x
Hf washout

Mo uptake

• < 5 sec sample - standard switching

Inlet 2 Inlet 1
Hf & Nd Mo & Nd • Rapid sample standard bracketing

• Balanced inlets
Switch
Valve

7277 World Communications Drive | Omaha, NE 68122 USA

Phone: 1.402.991.7800 | Fax: 1.402.991.7799

Email: info@icpms.com

Web: www.prepFAST.com | www.icpms.com Elemental Scientific

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