Evaluation of a novel nebulizer using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer

Importance of the topic

Efficient and robust nebulization is a cornerstone of high-performance ICP-OES. The nebulizer directly affects aerosol quality, transport efficiency, detection limits, precision and resistance to challenging sample matrices. A universal device able to handle high salt loads, aggressive acids and organic solvents simplifies workflows, reduces downtime and improves data quality across environmental, industrial, clinical and research applications.

Objectives and study overview

This application note presents a comparative evaluation of the novel OneNeb nebulizer—featuring polymeric construction and Flow Blurring technology—against a high-performance concentric glass nebulizer. The study addresses key questions:

• How does transport efficiency vary at conventional and low uptake rates?
• What detection limits and reproducibility are achieved for a broad panel of elements?
• How stable is the aerosol in demanding media such as organic solvents and high total dissolved solids (TDS)?

Used methodology and instrumentation

• ICP-OES system: Agilent 725 with radial plasma view and SPS 3 autosampler
• Detector: Simultaneous CCD (167–785 nm) with echelle optics for high throughput, no moving parts
• Nebulizers: OneNeb (Agilent 2010126900, polymeric Flow Blurring) and standard glass concentric
• Spray chambers: Single-pass and double-pass glass cyclonic
• Torch: Demountable quartz injector (0.38 mm ID)
• Operating conditions: RF power 1.3 kW; plasma gas 15 L/min; auxiliary gas 2.25 L/min; nebulizer gas 0.7 L/min
• Metrics: Transport efficiency by weighing setup, 30 s replicates for detection limits, stability runs up to several hours

Main results and discussion

• Transport efficiency at standard uptake (0.7 mL/min) was equivalent or superior (6.6 % vs 6.1 %). At low flow rates (40–300 µL/min) OneNeb reached up to 31 % efficiency without specialized low-flow hardware.
• Detection limits improved by 10–200 % for most elements (e.g. Cu, Na, Ba) compared to concentric glass, with equivalent performance for Ag and Zn.
• Signal stability in diisobutyl ketone and ShellSol exceeded 6 h, demonstrating chemical resistance and minimal drift.
• High-TDS samples (up to 50 % transport efficiency) showed no blockages over weeks, in contrast to repeated failures of glass concentric nebulizers.

Benefits and practical applications of the method

• Universal compatibility with aqueous, high-salt, strong acids (including HF) and common organic solvents
• High mechanical robustness reduces breakage and downtime
• Single nebulizer replaces multiple specialized units, simplifying method development and daily operation
• Enables analysis of limited-volume or precious samples via high efficiency at low uptake rates

Future trends and potential applications

• Integration with microfluidic sample introduction and hyphenation to separation techniques (LC-ICP-OES)
• Development of field-portable or process-monitoring systems leveraging rugged nebulization
• Further material innovations for broader solvent compatibility and wear resistance
• Automation and high-throughput screening in industrial QA/QC and environmental labs

Conclusion

The OneNeb nebulizer, based on Flow Blurring technology, offers a genuinely universal solution for ICP-OES aerosol generation. It delivers superior transport efficiency, lower detection limits, excellent stability in aggressive media and unmatched resistance to high-TDS blockages. Its mechanical durability, competitive price and broad compatibility streamline operations by eliminating the need to swap nebulizers for different sample types.