Silicon determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry after generation of volatile silicon tetrafluoride

A method for the determination of silicon by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) is described. The procedure is based on a discontinuous generation of volatile silicon tetrafluoride in concentrated sulphuric acid medium after injecting 125 μl of 0.1%, w/v sodium fluoride solution into 100 μl of the sample. The gaseous silicon tetrafluoride is fed directly into the ICP torch by a flow of 250 ml min⁻¹ Ar carrier gas. The calibration curve was linear up to at least 100 μg ml⁻¹ of Si(IV) and the absolute detection limit was 9.8 ng working with a solution volume of 100 μl. The relative standard deviation for six measurements of 10 μg ml⁻¹ of Si(IV) was 2.32%. The method was applied to the determination of silicon in water and iron ores.     

Analysis of nickel-niobium alloys by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was applied to the analysis of major and minor elements of Ni-Nb alloys obtained by aluminothermic reduction process. Digestion of samples was made using a mixture of HF+HNO₃. Minor and trace elements were determined without matrix separation. The precision for all constituents was <3%. Recoveries for the analyte-spiked samples were 95%.     

电感耦合等离子体-发射光谱分析中硫酸基体效应及抑制

研究了电感耦合等离子体-发射光谱分析中的硫酸基体效应及克服干扰的有效方法。对2%~20%范围内4种不同体积分数H2SO4溶液中30种元素的基体效应进行了观察,发现H2SO4对各元素的谱线发射强度均存在明显的抑制作用。实验证实体积分数5%乙酸可有效抑制H2SO4的基体效应,并建立了H2SO4溶液中痕量元素的电感耦合等离子体-发射光谱分析法。     

Plasma diagnostic on a low-flow plasma for inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

In order to elucidate the fundamental properties of a low-flow inductively coupled plasma (ICP) operated under total Ar consumption of 0.6 L min^− 1, excitation temperatures, rotational temperatures, ionization temperatures, electron temperatures, and electron number densities were studied with optical emission based methods. The plasma was operated in the SHIP torch (Static High Sensitivity ICP), which was designed for optical emission spectrometric detection.     

Direct determination of impurities in high purity silicon carbide by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry using slurry nebulization technique

A novel method for the determination of Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni and Ti in high purity silicon carbide (SiC) using slurry introduction axial viewed inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was described. The various sizes of SiC slurry were dispersed by adding dispersant polyethylene imine (PEI). The stability of slurry was characterized by zeta potential measurement, SEM observation and signal stability testing. The optimal concentration of PEI was found to be 0.5 wt% for the SiC slurry. Analytical results of sub-μm size SiC by the slurry introduction were in good accordance with those by the alkaline fusion method which verified that determination could be calibrated by aqueous standards. For μm size SiC, results of most elements have a negative deviation and should be calibrated by the Certified Reference Material slurry. Owing to a rather low contamination in the sample preparation and stability of the slurry, the limits of detection (LODs), which are in the range of 40-2000 ng g⁻¹, superior to those of the conventional nebulization technique by ICP-OES or ICP-MS.     

ICP-AES 法测定硅铁中痕量元素

采用电感耦合等离子原子发射光谱法测定硅铁中的痕量元素,研究了 Fe 基体对被测元素的影响,并选择了最佳工作条件.被测元素的检测限为 0 .60～76.2 ng/mL,样品加标回收率为 92%～108%,RSD(n=8)<3%.     

Determination of impurities in magnesium niobate by slurry introduction axially viewed inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

A simple preparation scheme is described for the quantitative analysis of a magnesium niobate sample using slurry introduction axially viewed inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Relationships between the stability of slurries and the conditions, such as particle size, pH, dispersant and amount of dispersant, were investigated experimentally. The MgNb₂O₆ slurry sample was prepared by adding the dispersant sodium polyacrylate and agitation in an ultrasonic bath to ensure good dispersion. Under optimization of pH and amount of dispersant, an analysis of minor and trace impurities (Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb) in magnesium niobate was accomplished. Applying a paired t test, we showed that the results were in agreement at a 95% confidence level with the reference values obtained by a fusion method for a magnesium niobate sample, which verified that the calibration curves could be established by aqueous standards. Analytical results demonstrate that the factors that affected the accuracy of determination for MgNb₂O₆ are mainly the particle size of the sample and the stability of slurry.     

Carbon-related matrix effects in inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

In Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES), it has been observed that the emission intensity of some atomic lines is enhanced or depressed by the presence of carbon in the matrix. The goal of this work was to investigate the origin and magnitude of the carbon-related matrix effects in ICP-AES. To this end, the influence of the carbon concentration and source (i.e. glycerol, citric acid and potassium hydrogen phthalate), the experimental conditions and sample introduction system on the aerosol characteristics and transport, plasma excitation conditions and the emission intensity of several atomic and ionic lines of a total of 15 elements has been studied. Results indicate that carbon related matrix effects do not depend on the carbon source and they become more severe when the amount of carbon loaded into the plasma increases, i.e., when using: (i) carbon concentrations higher than 5 g L^− 1; (ii) high sample uptake rates; and (iii) efficient sample introduction systems. Thus, when introducing carbon into the plasma, the emission intensity of atomic lines with excitation energies below 6 eV is depressed (up to 15%) whereas the emission intensity of atomic lines of higher excitation energies (i.e. As and Se) are enhanced (up to 30%). The emission intensity of the ionic lines is not affected by the presence of carbon. The origin of the carbon-related interferences on the emission intensity of atomic lines is related to changes in the line excitation mechanism since the carbon containing solutions show the same aerosol characteristics and transport efficiencies as the corresponding aqueous solutions. Based on the previous findings, a calibration approach for the accurate determination of Se in a Se-enriched yeast certified material (SELM-1) has been proposed.     

Determination of trace elements in human serum by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry with flow injection

An analytical method for the simultaneous determination of some trace elements (Au, Fe, Mg, Li, Sr, Zn) in human serum by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) with flow injection is described. Physical interference caused by the change of sample viscosity is discussed. When 100 μl of serum was injected, the relevant recoveries of > 99% for Li, > 98% for Cu and Mg, > 95% for Fe were obtained for an NIST SRM with R.S.D. > 1.3% using optimized flow injection parameters. The prepared lyophilized control serum for routine analysis in clinical laboratories was analyzed and verified for the validity of the technique employed in this experiment using NIST SRM 909 as a primary reference material.     

Direct determination of toxic trace metals in honey and sugars using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

A rapid method for the determination of Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, Co, Ni, Mn and Zn in honey and sugars without prior digestion or ashing of the sample was developed, using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The critical instrumental parameters such as sample flow rate and radio frequency incident power were thoroughly optimized. The effect of matrix type and its concentration was also examined for glucose/fructose, sucrose and honey matrices. The sensitivity was investigated using calibration curves obtained in presence of the above matrices. The obtained recoveries for Cd, Cu, Cr, Co, Ni and Mn at the μg l⁻¹ level were satisfactory and practically independent of the matrix used for the calibration standards. The recoveries of Pb and Zn were less sufficient. Various commercial samples of honey, sugar, glucose and fructose were analyzed with respect to their toxic metal content. The method can be applied for routine analysis, quality and environmental pollution control purposes at the μg l⁻¹ level of concentration, after suitable dilution of the samples.     

Multiple small volume microwave-assisted digestions using conventional equipment for multielemental analysis of human breast biopsies by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

A multiple microwave-assisted digestion procedure using small PTFE closed vials (6 mL capacity) inserted into conventional microwave digestion vessels has been developed as a fast, efficient and clean methodology for multielemental analysis of human breast biopsies by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. This small volume strategy allows drastically diminishing the volume of acid needed for digestion, and in turn, a decrease in sample dilution and an increase in sample throughput is achieved. A 2_IV^4-1 fractional factorial design was used for screening optimization of four variables that can influence the digestion efficiency: (A) nitric acid volume, (B) pre-digestion step, (C) microwave power, and (D) digestion time. A validation study included linearity, precision, detection and quantification limits. Validation against different biological certified reference materials (CRMs) was also performed.The digestion method is suitable for the determination of Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P, S and Zn in small size biological samples such as breast biopsies (<30 mg dry mass). Forty-seven biopsies from 39 women were analyzed: 20 samples from healthy women corresponding to mammoplasties and 27 samples from patients suffering from cancer pathology (19 corresponded to tumour and 8 to adjacent normal tissue). A significant accumulation of Al, Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, P and Zn was found in tumour as compared to healthy tissues. When this comparison is made for tumour and adjacent tissues, a significant accumulation of Al, Mg, P and Zn in tumour tissues was observed. Finally, only Ca significantly accumulates in the adjacent tissues as compared to healthy tissues.     

Trace element determination in crude oil and its fractions by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using ultrasonic nebulization of toluene solutions

A method was developed for the determination of trace elements in crude oil by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after sample dissolution in toluene and subsequent ultrasonic nebulization (USN). Carbon build-up at the interface and ion lenses was minimized by optimization of the argon to oxygen ratio in the plasma and by the desolvating action of the USN. The analyte addition technique, combined with internal standardization (¹¹⁵In), was the only calibration procedure capable to correct properly for signal suppression, especially observed in solutions with higher concentrations of asphaltenes. Analytical curves with good linearity (r²>0.99), and solution detection limits (LOD–3σ) of 0.1 μg l⁻¹ for V, Ni, Co, Y, Mo, Cd, Ba and La, and in the range of 0.1–1 μg l⁻¹ for Al, Ti, Fe, Zn, Sr, Ag, Sn and Pb were obtained. Method validation was performed by analyzing two certified reference materials. For National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) 1634c (V, Ni, Co), accuracy was approximately 10%, similar as observed for other 12 elements in NIST 1084a. Asphaltenes were separated from the oil bulk of crude oil samples from the Potiguar Basin (Brazil) using precipitation in heptane. The heptane-soluble fraction (maltenes) was separated by elution chromatography into three sub-fractions: (1) saturated and low molecular mass (MM) aromatics, (2) aromatics and low MM polar compounds, and (3) high MM polar compounds (resins). Trace elements were determined in these fractions after dissolution in toluene, by USN–ICP-MS. Mass balance calculations showed a significant increase of most elements (10–30 times) in the asphaltenic fraction, and in minor proportions in fraction 3, compared to the crude oil samples. Comparison with microwave-assisted acid decomposition showed good agreement, validating the proposed methodology and emphasizing its applicability for routine analysis of crude oil and other toluene soluble petroleum products.     

Oxygen bomb combustion of biological samples for inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

A rapid sample preparation method is proposed for decomposition of milk powder, corn bran, bovine and fish tissues, containing certified contents of the analytes. The procedure involves sample combustion in a commercial stainless steel oxygen bomb operating at 25 bar. Most of the samples were decomposed within 5 min. Diluted nitric acid or water-soluble tertiary amines 10% v/v were used as absorption solutions. Calcium, Cu, K, Mg, Na, P, S and Zn were recovered with the bomb washings and determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Ethanol mixed with paraffin was used as a combustion aid to allow complete combustion. A cooling step prior releasing of the bomb valve was employed to increase the efficiency of sample combustion. Iodine was also determined in milk samples spiked with potassium iodide to evaluate the volatilization and collection of iodine in amine CFA-C medium and the feasibility of its determination by ICP-OES with axial view configuration. Most of the element recoveries in the samples were between 91 and 105% and the certified and found contents exhibited a fair agreement at a 95% confidence level.     

Direct analysis of fly ash materials by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry using slurry nebulization

Fly ash samples of cement works were analysed using slurry nebulization inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometric (ICP-AES). Because of the influence of the experimental factors on the signal intensity, the optimal conditions of the analysis circumstances were determined. Control analyses (wet digestion followed by ICP-AES, and XRF of dry powders (pressed pellets)) were also carried out to compare the results. Based on the result, it was concluded that the slurry nebulization method using slurry standard of same type reference material for calibration can be applied for rapid but less precise (RSD 5–10%) determination of the elements in fly ash.     

电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱(ICP-AES)法测定再生锌中铊

铊是一种典型的危险废物,在选冶过程中,再生锌原料中的铊以氧化物或粉尘的形式排放到环境中,严重污染环境并危害人类健康。再生锌成分复杂,若样品消解不完全,直接影响测定结果的准确性。本文比较了微波消解和电热板常压消解对样品的处理效果。结果表明,微波消解法快速环保,但是对于难消解的再生锌样品,因无高氯酸的加入,其氧化性能降低,无法将样品消解完全,导致铊测定结果偏低。而采用高氯酸-硝酸-盐酸-氢氟酸构成的混合酸并于低温加盖聚四氟乙烯盖,进行电热板常压消解,能够有效地解决再生锌样品前处理难题。本实验采用四酸法消解样品,5%盐酸进行浸取,选择Tl 190.794nm为分析谱线,采用电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱（ICP-AES）法测定再生锌中铊。在仪器设定的最佳测定条件下,当Tl质量浓度为0.10μg/mL~5.00μg/mL时,与发射强度线性关系良好,线性回归方程为y = 180.77x -0.46,相关系数为0.99998。干扰实验表明,在设定的共存离子干扰上限,Pb、Zn、Cu、Fe、Ca、Bi 、Sb、Sn、As、Al、Cd、Si、Ag等对再生锌中铊的测定基本无影响。按照实验方法,对5个不同铊含量水平的再生锌样品进行11次独立测定,其测定范围为ω(Tl):0.0041%~0.21%,方法检出限为0.004μg/mL,实验相对准偏差（RSD）为2.07%~3.11%,加标回收率为97.3%~107.5%。方法简单,操作性强,能够快速准确测定再生锌中铊。     

Introduction of organic/hydro-organic matrices in inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and mass spectrometry: A tutorial review. Part I. Theoretical considerations

Due to their outstanding analytical performances, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are widely used for multi-elemental measurements and also for isotopic characterization in the case of ICP-MS. While most studies are carried out in aqueous matrices, applications involving organic/hydro-organic matrices become increasingly widespread. This kind of matrices is introduced in ICP based instruments when classical “matrix removal” approaches such as acid digestion or extraction procedures cannot be implemented. Due to the physico-chemical properties of organic/hydro-organic matrices and their associated effects on instrumentation and analytical performances, their introduction into ICP sources is particularly challenging and has become a full topic. In this framework, numerous theoretical and phenomenological studies of these effects have been performed in the past, mainly by ICP-OES, while recent literature is more focused on applications and associated instrumental developments. This tutorial review, divided in two parts, explores the rich literature related to the introduction of organic/hydro-organic matrices in ICP-OES and ICP-MS. The present Part I, provides theoretical considerations in connection with the physico-chemical properties of organic/hydro-organic matrices, in order to better understand the induced phenomena. This focal point is divided in four chapters highlighting: (i) the impact of organic/hydro-organic matrices from aerosol generation to atomization/excitation/ionization processes; (ii) the production of carbon molecular constituents and their spatial distribution in the plasma with respect to analytes repartition; (iii) the subsequent modifications of plasma fundamental properties; and (iv) the resulting spectroscopic and non spectroscopic interferences. This first part of this tutorial review is addressed either to beginners or to more experienced scientists who are interested in the analysis of organic/hydro-organic matrices by ICP sources and would like to consider the theoretical background of effects induced by such matrices.     

Application of wavelet transform to background correction in inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

A background correction method based on wavelet transform was devised and applied to inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The proposed approach separated background from analyte signal according to their different frequencies. Compared with the analyte signal, the background has a low frequency. By removal of the components attributed to the signal, the background over the spectral window of the analyte line can be fitted through wavelet reconstruction. The results showed that the wavelet transform technique could handle all kinds of background and low signal-to-background ratio spectra, and required no prior knowledge about the sample composition, no selection of suitable background correction points, and no mathematical assumption of the background distribution. This technique performed as well as the conventional three-point background correction method for linear backgrounds, and provided better results than the latter for curved backgrounds. The proposed procedure was illustrated, by processing real spectra, to be an effective and practical tool for background correction in ICP-AES.     

Direct multielement trace analyses of silicon carbide powders by spark ablation simultaneous inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

A procedure for the direct analysis of silicon carbide powders (SiC) by simultaneous detection inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry using a Spectro-CIROS™ spectrometer (CCD-ICP-OES) and a novel spark ablation system Spectro-SASSy (SA) as sample introduction technique is described. The sample preparation procedure for SA of non-conducting material is based on mixing the sample powders with a conducting matrix, in this case copper and briquetting pellets. Pressing time, pressure and mixing ratio are shown to be important parameters of the pelleting technique with respect to their mechanical stability for the reliability of the analysis results. A mixing ratio of 0.2 g +0.6 g for SiC and Cu, a pressure of 10 t cm^− 2 and a pressing time of 8 min have been found optimum. It has also been shown that the spark parameters selected are crucial for uniform volatilization. Electron probe micrographs of the burning spots and the analytical signal magnitude showed that a rather hard spark at 100 Hz was optimum. The determination of trace elements in silicon carbide powders is demonstrated using a calibration based on the addition of standard solutions. For Al, Ti, V, Mn and Fe detection limits in the lower µg g^− 1 range can be achieved. Internal standardization with Y in combination with the addition of standard solutions allows relative standard deviations in the range of 4 to 24% for concentration levels of the order of 3 to 350 µg g^− 1.     

Matrix effects in the analysis of biological matrices by axial view inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

We are reporting observations of positive and negative variations of emission line intensities during the determination of boron and titanium in biological matrices by axial view inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry with segmented charge-coupled device detection. The study included the testing of several elements (yttrium, palladium and platinum) and analytical wavelengths for internal standardization, aiming to compensate for variations in signal recovery due to matrix interferences. Human albumin was chosen as principal matrix component to assess the effect of variable chemical and instrumental operating conditions on boron response. A parametric study was performed by considering the application of two different nebulizer–aerosol chamber systems, the effect of plasma operating conditions on analyte and internal standard signals and the influence of common blood plasma electrolytes, added as salts of alkaline or alkaline earth elements. The pneumatic injection systems tested were a standard cross-flow nebulizer with a Scott type spray chamber and a concentric Meinhard type device coupled to a glass cyclonic spray chamber. The change from standard (i.e. medium RF power and relatively high aerosol carrier gas flow rate) to robust (i.e. higher RF power and lower carrier gas flow rate) conditions contributed to large, non-correlated variations in boron intensities and in some of the analyte/internal standard ratios. Significant memory effects were observed for injection of boron solutions prepared with boric acid and containing small amounts of acid, but those effects were negligible when the boron carrier compound was boronophenylalanyne. The injection of titanium solutions did not produce analyte carry-over effects. When internal standards were employed, a less effective signal compensation was consistently observed for boron at higher albumin concentrations when the difference in energies of the lines was between 4.5 and 6 eV. This effect was enhanced for some line pairs when robust conditions are employed. Differences in the response between nebulizers were minor, with a slight advantage in sensitivity for the cross-flow/Scott system. Yttrium was found to be useful for signal compensation in the determination of boron and titanium in blood and human plasma provided that the equivalent concentration of albumin in the nebulized sample dilutions was kept below 0.2% w/v. Simultaneous measurement of a reference strontium line was found to be useful as an additional verification of the response of yttrium as internal standard.