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QUICK NEBULIZER SELECTION CRITERIA

In general, the Peek Mira Mist is the correct nebulizer.

The Peek Mira Mist handles most liquids, most flow ranges used in ICP and ICP/MS, and is the most rugged, longest life of our nebulizers due to its outer body being strong PEEK material. However, for some cases you should choose one of our other nebulizers. The following may help you select which one, and if the quick list does not help, the more detailed tables following may help.


1. PEEK Mira Mist:
The most common choice for most Instruments, most samples: It has a lower cost than the Teflon Mira Mist, same excellent stability, %RSD, intensities. Can run from 0.25 to 2.5 ml/min. The Peek body will not handle some organic solvents, HF over 5%, high concentrations of HNO3 or Sulphuric acid. The inner capillaries are HP PFA.

2. PEEK Mira Mist II:
The same as the PEEK Mira Mist, but with a chromatographic style 1/4 – 28 fitting for the sample line. This is the standard option for Agilent systems. Can be used with any spectrometer.

3. Teflon Mira Mist and Mira Mist II:
The most versatile nebulizer for any instrument running concentrated acids, HF, or organic solvents. It also runs low acids or waters of course - it handles all solvents. Its excellent stability, low %RSD, and high intensities are the same as the Peek Mira Mist. The main reason to choose it is for sample acids/solvents that would damage the Peek bodies. The body is PTFE and the inner capillaries are HP PFA.

4. Aureus:
The best nebulizer for ICP/MS instruments. Handles small particulates - at 250 micron ID, the sample capillary is still larger than most concentrics. Runs from 50 µl/min to 2.0 ml/min. The 100% HP PFA body and inner capillaries will handle all liquids. Excellent stability, %RSD, intensities.

5. Ari Mist:
Similar to the Aureus, but more rugged body. Also for low flow applications for ICP/MS instruments. Handles small particulates - at 225 micron ID, the sample capillary is still larger than most concentrics. Runs from 50 µl/min to 1.5 ml/min. The Peek body will not handle some organic solvents, HF, high concentrations of HNO3 or Sulphuric acid. Excellent stability, %RSD, intensities. The inner capillaries are PTFE.

6. T2100:
Best choice for lots of undissolved particles, or slurries. Gives the same intensities and stability as a Mira Mist for more than 0.5 ml/min sample flows. Good for most Instruments, most samples, with concentrated acids, or organic solvents and lot of undissolved particles, very good stability, %RSD, intensities. The inner capillaries are HP PFA.

7. Mira Mist CE:
ICP /CE interface nebulizer. These are special application high pressure nebulizers: only used when low flow or very high stability and intensities are required. Highest cost, require higher pressure than available in most instruments (80 psi instead of 50 psi for 1 L/min). The inner capillaries are PEEK.

8. Enya Mist
Lowest flow nebulizer we make. Only for ICP/MS applications. Allows direct connection of uHPLC, HPLC, and syringe pumps. Handles from 200 nanoliters/min to 50 µl/min. The inner capillaries are PEEK.

8. PFA 260 & PFA 250
For ICP/MS applications. This is essentially an Ari Mist made of PFA on the parts that are in contact with the sample. The PFA 250 allows a bit lower flow than a standard Ari Mist, but with all the advantages still present: low flow, difficult to salt or plug, high particulate tolerance. Handles sample flow rates from 50 µl/min to 2 ml/min. PFA inner capillary extends out back of nebulizer for easy connection to 1/16" tubing fittings, and PFA only contact with the sample. The PFA 250 is designed for instruments requiring high gas flow of typically 1.2 L/min. The PFA 260 is designed for instruments running at lower gas flows and requiring the best sensitivity.

9. SS 50 & LB 30:
Special application low pressure high sample flow high gas flow nebulizer. Used for industrial sprays, not for ICP, ICP/MS analysis. These nebulizers are made to order and can be made in many sizes and shapes, with many types of materials.







NEBULIZER SELECTION CRITERIA DETAILS

General Usage:

Model Operating
Pressure
at .8 l/min
Sample Flow
µl/min
Sample
Capillary I.D.
microns

Plugable
Appropriate
Chamber
First
Year
Comments
PEEK Mira Mist 35-45 psi 200 - 2500 500 possible
not likely
All 2001 High Salts, Medium Particles, excellent %RSD (< .7%), very good sensitivities.
Not appropriate for concentrated acids, some organics.
Teflon Mira Mist 35-45 psi 200 - 2500 500 possible
not likely
All 2001 High Salts, Medium Particles, excellent %RSD (< .7%), very good sensitivities.
Aureus 35-45 psi 50 - 2000 250 possible
not likely
All 2023 100% HP PFA. For ICP/MS applications. High Salts, Medium Particles, excellent %RSD (< .7%), very good sensitivities.
T2100 30-40 psi 500 - 2500 750 Nearly
Impossible
All 2006 High Salts, Particles, excellent %RSD (< 1%), very good sensitivities.
Ari Mist 35-45 psi 50 - 1000 225 possible
not likely
All 2001 Medium Salts, No Particles, excellent %RSD (< .7%), very good sensitivities.
Micro Flow for alcohol, organics: 50 µl/min +
Not appropriate for concentrated acids, or for some organics.
LB 30 Requires ~ 4 L/min
at 35-45 psi
2,000 - 50,000 1000 No Industrial 2001 High Sample Flow, excellent mist.
Runs 2 to 50 ml/min, with optimum from 5 to 35 ml/min.
Designed for industrial applications, not for ICP analysis.
LB 80
LB 100
Requires ~ 20 L/min
at 35-45 psi
2,000 - 100,000 3000 No Industrial 2011 High Sample Flow, excellent mist.
Runs 2 to 100 ml/min, with optimum from 5 to 80 ml/min.
Designed for industrial applications, not for ICP analysis.




Low Sample Flow:

Model Operating
Pressure
at .8 l/min
Sample Flow
µl/min
Sample
Capillary I.D.
microns

Plugable
Appropriate
Chamber
First
Year
Comments
Aureus 35-45 psi 50 - 2000 250 possible All 2023 Medium Salts, Particles, excellent %RSD (< .7%), very good sensitivities.
Low Flow capable: 50 µl/min to 2 ml/min.
Mira Mist CE 75-90 psi 2 - 2500 500 possible
not likely
Straight preferred
such as
Scott Double Pass
2002 Interface for CE/ICP/MS, excellent %RSD (< .5%), excellent sensitivities.
PFA 250 30-50 psi 50 - 2000 250 possible All 2012 Medium Salts, NO Particles, good %RSD (< 1%), Excelent sensitivities.
Designed for high purity ICP/MS samples.
Micro Flow for alcohol, organics: 50 µl/min +
PFA 260 40-65 psi 50 - 2000 250 possible All 2012 Medium Salts, NO Particles, good %RSD (< 1%), Excelent sensitivities.
Designed for high purity ICP/MS samples.
Micro Flow for alcohol, organics: 50 µl/min +
Ari Mist 35-50 psi 50 - 1000 225 plugable All 2001 Medium Salts, NO Particles, good %RSD (< 1%), Excelent sensitivities.
Micro Flow for alcohol, organics: 50 µl/min +
Enya Mist 50 psi 0.2 - 200 60 easy to plug Straight preferred
such as
Scott Double Pass
2010 Medium Salts, NO Particles, good %RSD (< 2%), Excelent sensitivities but low flow reduces intensities.
Enables Split Flow applications - pump 500 µl/min, only deliver 10 - 25 µl/min to nebulizer. Minimizes oxides in ICP/MS




High Pressure, Maximum Stability, Minimum Flow Rate for CE/ICP/MS & LC/ICP/MS:

Model Operating
Pressure
at .8 l/min
Sample Flow
µl/min
Sample
Capillary I.D.
microns

Plugable
Appropriate
Chamber
First
Year
Comments
Mira Mist CE 75-90 psi 2 - 2500 500 possible
not likely
Straight preferred
such as
Scott Double Pass
2002 Interface for CE/ICP/MS, excellent %RSD (< .5%), excellent sensitivities.
.







DISCUSSION of SELECTION CRITERIA




Burgener Nebulizers have pressure ratings to indicate what pressure is required for 1 liter per minute Argon flow. Most Torches require .7 to .8 L/min, and flow rates above or below the torch optimum change the location of the plasma, and therefore also change the resultant intensities and stability of the plasma. The type of torch determines the optimum flow rates, not the nebulizer. The optimum pressure for the nebulizer is usually as high a pressure as your instrument will provide. But the optimum flow rate is determined by the type of torch and rarely matches the optimum of the nebulizer itself. While optimizing nebulizer flow rates or pressures, you are optimizing the flow rates to the torch and the whole system.

The above charts list the normal Operating Pressures assuming a 0.8 liter/minute Argon flow rate.

Some torches require 1.5 L/min, some use 1 L/min and some as little as 0.6 L/min. So the operating pressure of a nebulizer depends on the torch and can not be indicated on the nebulizer package since we do not know what torch will be used with it. We mark the package to indicate a specific flow rate, and we have chosen 1 Liter / minute as a standard. A nebulizer that requires 45 psi (15 psi = 1 bar) for a flow of 1 L/min will usually be operated at .8 L/min, which requires about 35 - 37 psi. In general, for all makes and designs of nebulizers, they work better at higher pressures. Our 30 psi rated nebulizers are designed for high flow (older design) torches that require 1.5 L/min. With a 30 psi per 1 L/min nebulizer, you can operate at 45 psi for 1.5 L/min which fits instruments with a maximum of 45 psi. Most instruments use newer torch designs and require .8 L/min or less, so we rarely sell 30 psi rated nebulizers.

Nebulizers work better at higher pressures. To get the best possible sensitivities and lowest %RSD, 100 psi or more is desirable. Our Legere, Mira Mist CE and Ari Mist HP nebulizers use 70 - 125 psi for 1 L/min, which means that most torches at .8L/min will require 50 - 80 psi for the nebulizer to optimize. This requires an instrument able to deliver higher pressures, and usually means that you will need an Argon supply independent of the instrument controls. A double stage regulator on a standard Argon tank will provide stable gas flows and should last a week or more of continuos operation.

Our Mira Mist CE nebulizer is designed for 5 to 20 µl/minute sample flows. To maximize the number of instruments easily used with it, while maintaining a high enough flow rate to sustain a mist, we designed the Mira Mist CE to require about 80 psi for 1 L/min gas flow. Optimizing on the PE/Sciex Elan ICP/MS, we found that a torch routinely running with 0.8 L/min actually required 1.2 L/min (85 psi) to optimize with a 5 µl/min sample flow. The PE mass flow controller was set for 1.5 L/min, but could not provide the pressure required to accomplish that, nor did it indicate that the actual flow rate was much lower than we had set - it had no pressure indicator, just a total flow setting. We had to use a separate gas line to get the actual 85 psi. This is a problem with most mass flow controllers: they do not have any way to indicate that there is not enough gas pressure to deliver the desired flow, so you may get low or no counts due to too little gas pressure without any indication in the instrument setup that the gas pressure is the problem.

The nebulizer requires Pressure to operate, but instruments with mass flow controllers list Flow not Pressure, and the torch requires a set Flow, not Pressure. To know if your system is properly optimized, you need to know the pressure and the flow, and unfortunately most manufacturers do not have both parameters available.


With the above preamble, you can now follow the nebulizer selection criteria:

1. Always use the highest pressure rating possible for your machine. If your machine can provide 125 psi, use a 125 psi nebulizer for the best sensitivities and lowest %RSD.

2. Accept your machines limitations in pressure - the lower rated pressure nebulizers are acceptable for most routine analysis. Only go to higher pressures if you absolutely require the precision - the nuisance of a separate high pressure tank of Argon is not worth it if the slightly lower precision is acceptable.

3. For General usage, the Mira Mist is the best nebulizer, with the T2100 a close second.

For most ICP, the Mira Mist (Peek or Teflon versions) are the most reliable, most sensitive, most stable and easiest to use. They rarely plug or salt and their long term stability is unmatched by any other.

The Mira Mist has a large sample passage ID: 500 microns or .020 inch - 4 times the cross sectional area of standard glass concentrics. Most particles will easily pass through the nebulizer without plugging. The Mira Mist CAN plug, but it is solid so it can be cleaned with a cleaning wire - however, a cleaning wire can also easily destroy the nebulizer if it touches the gas orifice area. So to prevent plugging, use a sample line capillary tube smaller in ID than the Mira Mist sample ID.


4. If you are running samples with slurries or high levels of undissolved particles, then the T2100 is the best choice.

In previous years, the T2002 and the TJA Trace were the recommended nebulizers. The T2002 and Trace nebulizers fit all standard chambers that can use a Meinhard, and they run all solutions without plugging or salting problems. These CAN NOT plug. The sample passage is much bigger than the capillary tube ID used to deliver the sample. The capillary tube can plug, but it is press fitted into the nebulizer and can be easily changed. The T2100 is similar, basically can not plug, has better sensitivity and stability, and it is easier to change the capillary tubing to the nebulizer. While we will continue making the T2002 nebulizers for many years, the T2100 is usually a better nebulizer.

5. For ICP/MS instruments, for Low Sample Flow use the Aureus nebulizers. They differ from the Mira Mist in having smaller ID sample capillary - minimizing the sample flow rate through the nebulizer. The Aureus is designed to run as low as 50 µl/min. The Aureus has a smaller sample passage ID: 250 microns. They CAN PLUG. Use with particle-free samples.

6. For interfacing ICP/MS with CE or LC, the Mira Mist CE is the choice. You can use the Mira Mist CE simply for the best high precision and low flow rates, if you have access to high pressure Argon. It will fit a cyclonic chamber, and any other standard chamber. The Mira mist CE has an ID of 500 microns or .020 inch, the same as the Mira Mist, but it is set for high pressure Argon sources, and it is manufactured to be able to run at VERY low sample flow rates. It will handle high salts and solids, and gives excellent precision and sensitivity. It is mainly designed for an interface between CE or LC systems with an ICP/MS. While it is our best nebulizer for most applications, it is too expensive to be justified for the small improvement over the Mira Mist unless you are interfacing ICP/MS with other instruments.


Teflon is a registered trademark of E.I. DuPont De Nemours Company and in all cases in this web page refers to PTFE (PolyTetraFluoroEthylene), or PFA (Perfluoroalkoxy alkanes)