Plasma-Based Techniques for Halogen Determination
Summary
Plasma-based analytical methods have become central to the accurate quantification of halogens—fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine—in diverse matrices. In these techniques, a high-temperature plasma serves both to atomise and excite sample constituents. The resulting atomic or ionic emission spectra can be recorded by optical emission spectrometry, while mass spectrometric approaches detect and quantify isotopic ions. Coupling plasma sources with efficient sample preparation strategies—such as pyrohydrolysis and microwave-induced combustion—enables the conversion of solid or complex organic materials into forms amenable to introduction into the plasma. Such combinations deliver limits of detection in the low microgram-per-gram to nanogram-per-gram range, broad dynamic ranges spanning several orders of magnitude, and high sample throughput. Applications span environmental monitoring of halogenated pollutants, quality control in pharmaceuticals and foodstuffs, and forensic or clinical analyses of trace halogen species. Innovations in microplasma devices and low-pressure systems are further reducing instrument footprints and power requirements, supporting field-deployable platforms. Ongoing developments aim at enhancing sensitivity, reducing interferences through novel reaction cells, and integrating automated calibration routines to deliver robust, real-time halogen speciation with minimal operator intervention.
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Plasma-Based Techniques for Halogen Determination publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in plasma-based techniques for halogen determination across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Inductively coupled plasma (ICP): A high‐temperature, ionised gas sustained by radiofrequency energy, used to atomise and excite analytes.
ICP-OES (optical emission spectrometry): A detection method recording characteristic light emitted by excited atoms and ions in a plasma.
ICP-MS (mass spectrometry): A technique in which ions generated in the plasma are separated and quantified by their mass-to-charge ratio.
Pyrohydrolysis: A sample preparation process in which combustion in the presence of water vapour releases halogens as volatile species for trapping.
Microwave-induced combustion (MIC): A rapid digestion technique using microwave energy and oxygen to oxidise samples completely in sealed vessels.
References
- Determination of bromine, fluorine and iodine in mineral supplements using pyrohydrolysis for sample preparation. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society (2012).
- Bromine and chlorine determination in cigarette tobacco using microwave-induced combustion and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society (2011).
- Fast and Simple Analytical Method for Direct Determination of Total Chlorine Content in Polyglycerol by ICP-MS. Molecules (2018).
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