How to clean the ICP torch tube
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When using ICP to analyze secondary chlor-alkali brine, scaling can form at the tip of the torch over time. What solution is suitable for cleaning it, and how should it be cleaned?
1. The manufacturer should have training materials. 2. Consider what your goal is: cleaning, and also keep in mind what the background material is—glass. So, soak it in acid and then rinse it; it’s best to refer to the training materials for specific details
Why does the ICP torch tube scale up? Is there a problem with the sample pretreatment? If the sample is properly prepared, it enters the torch tube in a liquid state, is then converted into plasma, and subsequently evaporates as a gas – so how can any solid deposit on the inside of the torch tube?
Reply to 3# ask123456: The torch tubes we use currently also exhibit the \"scaling phenomenon\" mentioned by the original poster. We clean them by soaking them in a 1+1 nitric acid solution for 24 hours before cleaning. However, as time goes by, more and more scaling occurs (I personally think it’s not scaling but rather a change in the structure of the torch tube itself). Visually, the inner part of the tube now appears to have a grayish powder-like substance on it (which does not dissolve even when soaked in water). I’m not sure if this indicates that the torch tube has reached the end of its useful life
Does that state above have any impact on the determination of Si in brine?