ICP - Concentric Nebulizer

A very popular type of pneumatic nebulizer is the concentric or Meinhard nebulizer.

This nebulizer is a one-piece device, usually made of glass, that has an internal capillary tube (10-35 um in diameter) mounted in a concentric fashion axial to an external tube.

Nebulizer gas is passed through the external tube at a flow rate of about 1 L/min, which results in sample being aspirated (or preferably pumped) through the internal capillary at a rate of about 0.5-1 mL/min, with aerosol formation occurring at the tip.
As with the cross-flow nebulizer, samples with suspended matter or high dissolved solids concentration can result in partial blocking of the nebulizer, thus inhibiting aerosol formation.

The high-efficiency nebulizer (HEN) is a low-volume low-flow version of the concentric nebulizer.

It operates with a sample delivery rate as low as 10 uL/min. Therefore, this is a suitable nebulizer for use when low sample volume is available.

This nebulizer has good long-term stability, but because its internal capillary diameter is only 75-100 micron, it is prone to blockage.

The microconcentric nebulizer, which is made entirely of an inert material, is highly suitable for the analysis of corrosive materials such as hydrofluoric acid.

This nebulizer operates at a solution uptake rate of about 30 uL/min.

Detection limits achieved with this system are comparable to those obtained with other pneumatic nebulizers.
from suspended particulate matter.