Four-line method for correction of inter-element effects on excitation and ionization processes in atomic emission spectrometry in plasmas

A four-line method is described for correction of inter-element effects caused by variations of excitation temperatures and the degree of ionization in a plasma. Four lines with different upper-level energies in the atomic-ionic system are compared. The total number of atoms and ions is used as the response instead of the spectral intensity. Plasma torch symmetry is one of the most important factors for successful corrections. The correction method is demonstrated for the determination of manganese in a capacitively coupled plasma torch, where strontium interferes strongly.