The analytical performance of two sample introduction systems, a low microwave powered thermospray nebulizer and a pneumatic nebulizer, coupled to an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer, was compared. Several parameters including the sample uptake rate, the carrier gas flow rate and the observation height(above the load coil) were optimized and compared. Under the optimized conditions, the background equivalent concentration of Mn 257 610 nm, memory effect, HCl concentration effect on emission intensity of some selected elements, detection limits(DLs) and relative standard deviation(RSD) for Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, La with either nebulizer were studied. The DLs obtained with MWTN are lower than those with PN, but the RSDs are worse with MWTN than with PN.
