Determination of the rare earth elements in natural waters by isotope-dilution mass spectrometry

A method is described for the determination of ten rare earth elements (La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Er, Yb, Lu) in natural waters by isotope-dilution mass spectrometry. A 1-l sample is used for sea water, and proportionately less for other natural waters. The rare earth elements are extracted by co-precipitation with hydrated iron (III) oxide and purified on a single cation-exchange column, with hydrochloric and nitric acids as eluents. Final measurements are from a triple Re/ Ta filament in the mass spectrometer, run automatically under computer control. Relative standard deviations are better than 4% for the analysis of standard solutions, with accuracy in the same range. The analytical blank is low ( <0.03 pmol, 4 pg, for Nd) producing a sample/blank concentration ratio greater than 100 for all ten rare earth elements when determined in a 1-l seawater sample. Concentration depth profiles are given for an ocean water and normalised abundance patterns for three natural waters.