For a few simple reasons, DC Arc is revered by those who use it. The reasons include:

• Direct analysis of conductive and nonconductive samples
  
• Eliminates sample digestions
  
• Provides low limits of detection
  
• Provides fast quantitative, semi-quantitative or qualitative analysis
  
• Captures the full spectrum, performs elemental fingerprinting
  
• Inexpensive to operate
  
• Inexpensive to maintain​
  

With the DC Arc technique, a small amount of sample (typically 20-500mg) is loaded into a cup shaped graphite electrode. The sample electrode and a counter electrode are inserted into the stand and connected to a DC Arc Source. ​​

Read more about the DC Arc Technique​

​The DC Arc technique has been relied upon for decades as a tool for the direct analysis of a wide range of solid materials. The earliest systems, many of which are still in use today, were photographic plate spectrographs. These systems offered the advantage of providing a permanent photographic record of a samples spectrum, but also carried with it the cumbersome need to view and interpret photographic plates. These early generation instruments were replaced, first by PMT-based simultaneous spectrometers and then CID based DC Arc spectrometers, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. 

The Prodigy DC Arc is state-of-the-art DC Arc spectrometer that offers
many advantages over all of its predecessors. 

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