Question

What are the advantages of ICP over flame AA?

Answer 1

Advantages of Inductively coupled plasma against atomic absorption are

1) detection limits

Generally for Group I elements detection limit is better by flame AA than by ICP. Similarly for refractory elements (e.g. B, Ti, V, Al) .  

Non-metals such as sulfur, nitrogen, carbon, and the halogens (e.g. I, Cl, Br), we cannot use AA but we can determine using ICP.

Simultaneous ICP spectrometers can detect more than one element simultaneously and thus it will give more accurate result, and we can avoid problems like flame equilibration time, which is a problem faced for AA.

Operation of the instrument is easy for ICP, even we can leave it for some time whereas AA cannot be left completely unattended due to safety reasons.

Another advantage is ICP is almost free from chemical interferences. At plasma, the chemical bonds are completely ruptured at above 6000 °C.