This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I research project will focus on an analytical technique capable of simultaneous, trace, multi-element determinations on small samples of biological materials at a reasonable cost. The proposed research will develop a unique capacitively coupled microwave plasma (CCMP) emission spectrometer system for this purpose. The system will utilize a novel, commercially available , high resolution, large spectral range, large throughput, small image format echelle spectrometer with a charge coupled device detector. This detection system will provide more than 1 million spectral resolution elements over the range 170-900 nm. For the multi-element analysis of microsamples, the analytical figured of merit as well as the cost and simplicity of the proposed systems, will exceed any other commercial or research instrumentation.
