Abstract
Laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) has been established as a very efficient and sensitive technique for the direct analysis of solids. In this work the capability of LA–ICP–MS was investigated for determination of trace elements in high-purity graphite. Synthetic laboratory standards with a graphite matrix were prepared for the purpose of quantifying the analytical results. Doped trace elements, concentration 0.5 μg g–1, in a laboratory standard were determined with an accuracy of 1% to ± 7% and a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2–13%. Solution-based calibration was also used for quantitative analysis of high-purity graphite. It was found that such calibration led to analytical results for trace-element determination in graphite with accuracy similar to that obtained by use of synthetic laboratory standards for quantification of analytical results. Results from quantitative determination of trace impurities in a real reactor-graphite sample, using both quantification approaches, were in good agreement. Detection limits for all elements of interest were determined in the low ng g–1 concentration range. Improvement of detection limits by a factor of 10 was achieved for analyses of high-purity graphite with LA–ICP–MS under wet plasma conditions, because the lower background signal and increased element sensitivity.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 4 January 2001 / Revised: 27 March 2001 / Accepted: 28 March 2001
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pickhardt, C., Becker, J. Trace analysis of high-purity graphite by LA–ICP–MS. Fresenius J Anal Chem 370, 534–540 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002160100873
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002160100873