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A practical approach to non-spectral interferences elimination in inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

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Abstract

Matrix effects and practical possibilities of reducing accompanying non-spectral interferences in inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) were studied for microconcentric Micromist, concentric and V-groove nebulizers (VGN) coupled with two cyclonic spray chambers of different sizes. The effect of a wide scale of interferents and mixtures thereof in the concentration range of up to 2 mass % (Na, Ca, Ba, La, urea) or up to 20 vol. % (nitric acid) on the analysis of Cd, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, Pb and Zn was investigated in terms of their analytical recovery and Mg(II) 280.27 nm/Mg(I) 285.29 nm line intensity ratio. Recoveries of ionic lines were lower than those of atomic lines (37–102 %) depending on the matrix concentration. The Mg(II)/Mg(I) ratios were found to be 12–15 and they slightly decreased as the matrix load increased. Exceptional behavior of pure La matrix, steeply lowering the recoveries and Mg(II)/Mg(I) ratios was observed. A Micromist nebulizer coupled with a small inner volume spray chamber provided the highest recoveries (94–102 %), lowest matrix effects across the matrix loads and, compared to others, the least significant dependence without worsening of the analytical characteristics (recoveries, signal background ratios and the Mg(II)/Mg(I) ratios) across the studied matrices.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Studentská 573, 532 10, Pardubice, Czech Republic

    Anna Krejčová, Tomáš Černohorský & Lenka Bendakovská

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  1. Anna Krejčová
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  2. Tomáš Černohorský
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  3. Lenka Bendakovská
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Correspondence to Anna Krejčová.

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Krejčová, A., Černohorský, T. & Bendakovská, L. A practical approach to non-spectral interferences elimination in inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Chem. Pap. 70, 669–684 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1515/chempap-2016-0004

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