SYSTEM FOR ANALYZING ONLINE-TRANSFERRED ASSAY SAMPLES

Abstract

The present invention relates to an analysis system capable of online transferring an analysis sample and promptly acquiring an analysis result. The analysis system capable of analyzing the analysis samples supplied from at least two sites, with one analysis apparatus, and requiring no cleaning process for a nebulizer and a spray chamber, is provided. The present invention relates to analysis system including at least two sample individually transferring units. Each sample transferring path of the sample individually transferring units is coupled to a plasma torch of a common analysis unit including the one analysis apparatus with inductively-coupled plasma or microwave plasma. Each sample transferring path has a main flow path, a makeup gas supply path, and a drain flow path. The plasma torch has a sample introducing pipe that introduces the atomized analysis sample, provided at a substantially center. The inner diameter of the drain flow path is equivalent to or larger than the inner diameter of an inlet portion of the sample introducing pipe of the plasma torch.

Claims

1. An analysis system comprising: a sample individually transferring unit comprising a nebulizer that atomizes an analysis sample, a spray chamber that selects the atomized analysis sample based on a particle diameter, and a sample-transferring path that online transfers the analysis sample from the spray chamber to a plasma torch; and a common analysis unit comprising the plasma torch that supplies the online-transferred analysis sample, into plasma flames, and an analysis apparatus with inductively-coupled plasma or microwave plasma, wherein at least a pair of the sample individually transferring units is provided and each of the sample transferring paths of the sample individually transferring units is coupled to the plasma torch of the common analysis unit, each of the sample transferring paths has a main flow path that transfers the analysis sample from the spray chamber to the plasma torch, a makeup gas supply path that supplies makeup gas to the main flow path, and a drain flow path interposed between the makeup gas supply path and the spray chamber, the drain flow path that discharges the makeup gas and/or the analysis sample from the main flow path, the main flow path includes no pump and valve in a transferring path of the analysis sample, the plasma torch has a sample introducing pipe that introduces the atomized analysis sample, and the inner diameter (D.sub.d) of the drain flow path is equivalent to or larger than the inner diameter (D.sub.t) of the sample introducing pipe of the plasma torch near the side of plasma introduction (D.sub.d=D.sub.t or D.sub.d>D.sub.t).

2. The analysis system according to claim 1, wherein the drain flow path in at least one of the sample transferring paths has a reducing portion that reduces a flow path space.

3. The analysis system according to claim 1, wherein the sample individually transferring units each comprise a desolvation device, and the spray chamber is arranged in the desolvation device.

4. The analysis system according to claim 1, further comprising: a standard sample adding device that adds a standard sample to the analysis sample before the atomization due to the nebulizer.

5. An analysis method comprising the steps of: online transferring an analysis sample through a sample transferring path from a spray chamber to a plasma torch after a nebulizer atomizes the analysis sample and the spray chamber selects the atomized analysis sample based on a particle diameter; and performing a common analysis with inductively-coupled plasma or microwave plasma to the analysis sample with an analysis apparatus by supplying the online-transferred analysis sample into plasma flames by the plasma torch, wherein the step of online transferring individually online transfers the analysis samples through at least a pair of the sample transferring paths, supplies any one of the analysis samples to the plasma torch, and alternately supplies each of the analysis samples to the common analysis step, the online transfer transfers the analysis samples through main flow paths from the spray chambers to the plasma torch, supplies makeup gas to the main flow paths through makeup gas supply paths, and discharges the makeup gas and/or the analysis samples through drain flow paths, and when the sample transferring path of the analysis sample during the step of performing the common analysis is performed is defined as an action path, and the sample transferring path of the analysis sample with the step of performing the analysis, being not performed, is defined as a standby path, only the makeup gas is supplied between the makeup gas supply path and a path end portion on the side of the plasma torch, in the standby path.

6. The analysis method according to claim 5, wherein a standard addition method adds a standard sample to the analysis sample before the atomization.

7. The analysis system according to claim 2, wherein the sample individually transferring units each comprise a desolvation device, and the spray chamber is arranged in the desolvation device.

8. The analysis system according to claim 2, further comprising: a standard sample adding device that adds a standard sample to the analysis sample before the atomization due to the nebulizer.

9. The analysis system according to claim 3, further comprising: a standard sample adding device that adds a standard sample to the analysis sample before the atomization due to the nebulizer.

10. The analysis system according to claim 7, further comprising: a standard sample adding device that adds a standard sample to the analysis sample before the atomization due to the nebulizer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of conventional exemplary introduction of a sample solution.

[0041] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an analysis system in an embodiment.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows explanatory figures illustrating an analysis method in the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0043] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0044] An analysis system illustrated in FIG. 2 online transferred analysis samples sampled from different three places and then an ICP analysis apparatus analyzed the analysis samples. The analysis system can individually supply three types of sample solutions S to be described below, to a common plasma torch P through nebulizers N, spray chambers C, and sample transferring paths, each being independent. Each of the sample transferring paths includes a drain D path and a makeup gas M path. The inner diameter (D.sub.d) of each drain flow path satisfies the following expression: D.sub.d>D.sub.t with respect to the inner diameter (D.sub.t) of a sample introducing pipe of the plasma torch near the side of plasma introduction. Each of the drain flow paths has a reducing portion.

[0045] The sample solutions S included sample 1, sample 2, and sample 3 defined as an Rh solution having a concentration of 1 ppb, a Y solution having a concentration of 1 ppb, and an In solution having a concentration of 1 ppb, respectively. The sample solutions S were analyzed. FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are schematic views illustrating before and after a switch of an action path La and a standby path Ls is made. A sample transferring path of an analysis sample with a common analysis unit not being performed (the standby path Ls) was analyzed in a condition in which only the makeup gas was supplied to and the analysis sample of the standby path Ls was not supplied to a portion Is between a makeup gas supply path and a path end portion on the side of the plasma torch (a junction J between the standby path and the action path). With the method, time necessary for stabilizing a signal was measured in making a switch of the analysis samples.

[0046] As a result, when the analysis system measured three types of the analysis samples, being switched, the signal decreased from 1 ppb to 10 ppt within fifteen seconds after the switching. The signal of a sample after the switching, stabilized at 1 ppb in approximately fifteen seconds after that. In this manner, the analysis system can make a switch of the supply of the analysis samples including a plurality of the types, in a short time, and can perform the analysis with the one analysis apparatus.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0047] The analysis system of the present invention is suitable when a trace element is online analyzed for quality control in various factories or for environmental analysis of a river. Particularly, the analysis system can analyze analysis samples supplied from at least two supply sources with one analysis apparatus, and is suitable for trace element analysis due to ICP analysis or MP analysis.

REFERENCE SINGS LIST

[0048] S sample solution
N nebulizer
C spray chamber
P plasma torch
D drain
Ar argon gas
M makeup gas
La action path
Ls standby path
J junction