Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

LA-ICP-MS analysis of waste polymer materials

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Waste polymer materials were analyzed by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The concentrations of 35 elements were determined by using different types of external standards, namely glass and polyethylene (PE) based. Prior to the LA-ICP-MS analysis of determined elements, Na and/or Zn were used as internal standards. The investigations concentrated mainly on the detection of Cr, As, Cd, Sn, Sb, Hg, and Pb. Using PE-based calibration standards, the measured concentrations in the waste polymers were within 49% of the wet chemical data. The determined deviation was up to 102% when using the glass standards. Trace concentration of As and Hg (and also of S) could be determined with a concentration below 1 mg/kg. However, Hg provided very low intensity with a high relative standard deviation (RSD) and was therefore not further evaluated. Cryomilling of polymers was applied to reduce the particle size of the material and improved the precision and accuracy of LA-ICP-MS analysis. On average, the LA-ICP-MS results showed a deviation from the wet chemical reference analysis of 38% and an RSD of 56% for pressed polymer powder samples prepared by cryomilling. In general, waste pellets without sample preparation (i.e., use of pellets as delivered) are too heterogeneous, not suitable for micro-beam techniques, and showed a strong matrix dependence. With homogeneous pellets that appear similar to each other agreement in the determined concentrations was found for some elements.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Fink H, Panne U, Niessner R (2001) Analysis of recycled thermoplasts from consumer electronics by laser-induced plasma spectroscopy. Anal Chim Acta 440:17–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Fink H, Panne U, Niessner R (2002) Process analysis of recycled thermoplasts from consumer electronics by laser-induced plasma spectroscopy. Anal Chem 74:4334–4342

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Radivojevic I, Niessner R, Haisch C, Florek S, Becker-Ross H, Panne U (2004) Detection of bromine in thermoplasts from consumer electronics by laser-induced plasma spectroscopy. Spectrochim Acta B 59:335–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Wolf RE, Thomas C, Bohlke A (1998) Analytical determination of metals in industrial polymers by laser ablation ICP-MS. Appl Surf Sci 127:299–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Resano M, Garcia-Ruiz E, Vanhaecke F (2005) Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell mass spectrometry for the multi-element analysis of polymers. Spectrochim Acta B 60:1472–1481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Linsinger T, Liebich A, Przyk E, Lamberty A (2007) The certification of the mass fraction of, As, Br, Cd, Cl, Cr, Hg, Pb, S and Sb and the assignment of indicative values for Sn and Zn in two polyethylene reference materials. Report EUR 22784 EN. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Geel

  7. Bürgler T (2008) Kunststoffe im Hochofenprozess - Vorbereitung, Umsetzung und Ergebnisse. Proceedings of 9th DepoTech conference, Leoben, Austria, November 2008

  8. Asanuma M, Ariyama T, Sato M, Murai R, Nonaka T, Okochi I, Tsukiji H, Nemoto K (2000) Development of waste plastics injection process in blast furnace. ISIJ Int 40:244–251

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Buchwalder J, Scheidig K, Schingitz M, Schmole P (2006) Results and trends on the injection of plastics and ASR into the blast furnace. ISIJ Int 46:1767–1770

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Stepputat M, Noll R (2003) On-line detection of heavy metals and brominated flame retardants in technical polymers with laser-induced breakdown spectrometry. Appl Opt 42:6210–6220

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Tanaka T, Ando Y, Saitoh T, Hiraide M (2002) Preconcentration of traces of cobalt, nickel, copper and lead in water by thermorespons ive polymer-mediated extraction for tungsten filament electrothermal vaporization-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. J Anal At Spectrom 46:1556–1559

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Park K, Lee JH, Cho K, Min HS, Lim MC, Choi DS (2008) Determination of toxic elements in polymer materials using instrumental neutron activation analysis. Bull Korean Chem Soc 29:1391–1394

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Durrant SF, Ward NI (2005) Recent biological and environmental applications of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). J Anal At Spectrom 20:821–829

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Günther D, Frischknecht R, Heinrich CA, Kahlert HJ (1997) Capabilities of an argon fluoride 193 nm excimer laser for laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectometry microanalysis of geological materials. J Anal At Spectrom 12:939–944

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Jarvis KE, Williams JG (1993) Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS): a rapid technique for the direct, quantitative determination of major, trace and rare-earth elements in geological samples. Chem Geol 106:251–262

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Koch J, Günther D (2007) Femtosecond laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: achievements and remaining problems. Anal Bioanal Chem 387:149–153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Motelica-Heino M, Le Coustumer P, Thomassin JH, Gauthier A, Donard OFX (1998) Macro and microchemistry of trace metals in vitrified domestic wastes by laser ablation ICP-MS and scanning electron microprobe X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. Talanta 46:407–422

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Jimenez MS, Gomez MT, Castillo JR (2007) Multi-element analysis of compost by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Talanta 72:1141–1148

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Plotnikov A, Vogt C, Wetzig K, Kyriakopoulos A (2008) A theoretical approach to the interpretation of the transient data in scanning laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: Consideration of the geometry of the scanning area. Spectrochim Acta B 63:474–483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Dobney AM, Mank AJG, Grobecker KH, Conneely P, De Koster CG (2000) Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry as a tool for studying heterogeneity within polymers. Anal Chim Acta 423:9–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Kang D, Amarasiriwardena D, Goodman AH (2004) Application of laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to investigate trace metal spatial distributions in human tooth enamel and dentine growth layers and pulp. Anal Bioanal Chem 378:1608–1615

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Kleiber L, Fink H, Niessner R, Panne U (2002) Strategies for the analysis of coal by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Anal Bioanal Chem 374:109–114

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Boulyga SF, Heilmann J, Prohaska T, Heumann KG (2007) Development of an accurate, sensitive, and robust isotope dilution laser ablation ICP-MS method for simultaneous multi-element analysis (chlorine, sulfur, and heavy metals) in coal samples. Anal Bioanal Chem 389:697–706

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Longerich HP, Jackson SE, Günther D (1996) Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric transient signal data acquisition and analyte concentration calculation. J Anal At Spectrom 11:899–904

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Allain P, Jaunault L, Mauras Y, Mermet JM, Delaporte T (1991) Signal enhancement of elements due to presence of carbon-containing compounds in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Anal Chem 63:1497–1498

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Hu Z, Gao S, Günther D, Hu S, Liu X, Yuan H (2006) Direct determination of tellurium in geological samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using ethanol as a matrix modifier. Appl Spectrosc 60:781–785

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Hu Z, Hu S, Gao S, Liu Y, Lin S (2004) Volatile organic solvent-induced signal enhancements in inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry: a case study of methanol and acetone. Spectrochim Acta B 59:1463–1470

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Simons C, Hanning S, Wegner A, Mans C, Janßen A, Kreyenschmidt M, Broekaert JAC (2008) Comparative study on the homogeneity of polymeric calibration materials using LA-ICP-MS. J Anal At Spectrom 23:1038–1041

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Viskup R, Praher B, Stehrer T, Jasik J, Wolfmeir H, Arenholz E, Pedarnig JD, Heitz J (2009) Plasma plume photography and spectroscopy of Fe - oxide materials. Appl Surf Sci 255:5215–5219

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Huber N, Gruber J, Arnold N, Heitz J, Bauerle D (2000) Time-resolved photography of the plasma-plume and ejected particles in laser ablation of polytetrafluoroethylene. Europhys Lett 51:674–678

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The financial support by the Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth and the National Foundation for Research, Technology and Development in Austria is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Christian Doppler Laboratory for Laser-Assisted Diagnostics, Institute of Applied Physics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, 4040, Linz, Austria

    T. Stehrer, J. Heitz, J. D. Pedarnig & N. Huber

  2. Laboratorium für Anorganische Chemie, ETH Hönggerberg, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland

    B. Aeschlimann & D. Günther

  3. AVE Österreich GmbH, 4600, Wels, Austria

    H. Scherndl & T. Linsmeyer

  4. voestalpine Stahl GmbH, 4031, Linz, Austria

    H. Wolfmeir & E. Arenholz

Authors
  1. T. Stehrer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Heitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. D. Pedarnig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N. Huber
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. B. Aeschlimann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. D. Günther
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. H. Scherndl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. T. Linsmeyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. H. Wolfmeir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. E. Arenholz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Heitz.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stehrer, T., Heitz, J., Pedarnig, J.D. et al. LA-ICP-MS analysis of waste polymer materials. Anal Bioanal Chem 398, 415–424 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-3963-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-3963-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation