Elemental Scientific, Inc.

Mark Casper

Daniel R Wiederin

Ross Coenen

Michael Paul Field

Jude Sakowski

Systems and methods are described for controlling flow of a purge gas introduced to an ablation cell between samples to remove atmospheric gas. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a spray chamber including a spray chamber body, a transfer gas inlet configured to receive gas from a laser ablation sample cell, a first outlet line configured to transfer gas from the spray chamber to an inductively-coupled plasma torch, and a second outlet line coupled to the spray chamber body, the second gas outlet having a larger internal cross-sectional area than an internal cross-sectional area of the first outlet line; and a valve fluidically coupled to the second outlet line, the valve configured to transition between at least an open configuration configured to permit transfer gas through the second outlet line and a closed configuration configured to prevent transfer of gas through the second outlet line.

Atmospheric purge system and method for laser ablation sample processing

Systems and methods are described for transferring gas from an ablation cell to an inductively coupled plasma analysis system via a gas exchange membrane transfer line to exchange gas introduced to the ablation cell with a sweep gas. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a laser ablation cell configured to generate a sample transfer stream through laser ablation of a sample and introduction of a carrier gas to flow the ablated sample from the laser ablation cell; an inductively-coupled plasma analysis device configured to measure one or more analytes in the sample transfer stream; and a gas exchange membrane transfer line fluidically coupled between the laser ablation cell and the inductively-coupled plasma analysis device, the gas exchange membrane transfer line configured to replace gas in the sample transfer stream with sweep gas via gas exchange across a membrane of the gas exchange membrane transfer line.

Membrane-based purge gas and sample transfer for laser ablation sample processing

Systems and methods are described for securing fabric, paper, and film samples for analysis by laser ablation. A method embodiment includes, but is not limited to, securing a thin, solid sample with a sample holder system, the sample holder system configured to hold the thin, solid sample in a taut configuration between a piston and a sample holder base; transferring the sample holder system to a laser ablation system; and ablating at least a portion of the thin, solid sample in the taut configuration with the laser ablation system to provide an ablated sample.

Systems and methods for securing fabric, paper, and film samples for analysis by laser ablation

Systems and methods are described for providing a representative, homogeneous, and planarized target for solid sample laser ablation. A method embodiment includes, but is not limited to, removing portions of a solid sample with an abrasive sampling system, the abrasive sampling system including at least one of a plurality of abrasive particles configured to hold the portions of the solid sample on an abrasive substrate between the abrasive particles or a texturized surface configured to hold the portions of the solid sample on the texturized surface; transferring the abrasive sampling system holding the portions of the solid sample to a laser ablation system; and ablating the portions of the solid sample held by the abrasive sampling system with the laser ablation system.

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Blair, NE, United States of America

Mark Casper