Question

What are the sources of background signals in ICP-AES

Answer 1

A very close spectral lines from two elements is responsible for an interference between the two lines of interest. Due to this the measured intensity will always be a combination of the intensities of the two emission lines and gives inaccurate abundance of either element. If the interfering element in the sample increases and as the resolution of the instrument decreases.

The background continuum is radiation distributed continuously over the wavelength range of the spectrometer. This type of interference can be induced from sources like recombination, Brehmsstrahlung, line-broadening, stray light within the spectrometer, and the presence of molecular species. Because of this the intensity increases with temperature.

A well known source of background is most probably from the supporting gas plasma. The effect is most pronounced when argon gas is used. In ICP-AES, background enhancements are mainly due to Ca, Mg and Al elements.

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