Microplasma-based atomic emission detectors for gas chromatography

This paper is an update on the development of microplasmas as detectors for gas chromatography. Direct current (dc), alternating current (ac), and radio frequency (rf) microplasmas developed in recent years will be described with their significant analytical results, which mostly concern the detection of halogens and sulfur. New results will be added which employ a microhollow cathode discharge (MHCD) as excitation source. Emphasis will be given to this microplasma which has already been implemented as an element-selective detector for emission spectrometry and as ionization source for mass spectrometry. The possibility to use it as a multielement-selective detector for gas chromatography will be presented. A discussion of the published detection limits of all these microplasmas is given.