A systematic study was carried out on the effect of ICP-MS Hence, significant errors could arise, particularly because of the variation of response time and matrix effects. operational parameters, such as dwell time, sweeps per reading, readings per replicate and number of replicates, onOn the other hand, it is possible to use an internal calibration in order to correct the absolute response of signals obtained the precision and accuracy of results obtained in the semiquantitative mode by using Rh as internal standard and at different mass numbers as a function of that found for a selected element.13,14 In this case, response factors are adjusted Ge, In and Bi for internal calibration of the instrument. In order to improve the quantitative analysis of major elements, to allow the calculated internal calibration concentration to be equal to its defined value. The advantages of this method such as Na, Mg, K and Ca, the detector attenuation (OmniRange parameter) must be recalibrated by using a include adjusted response factors for each sample based on the same standard and sample matrices (sample and analytes multi-standard solution of these elements. Under these conditions, accurate results were obtained with a total are present in the same solution). Thus, elimination of matrix discrepancies and compensation for any drift occurring during measurement time of 103 s per sample, covering the whole mass range from 6 to 238 m. The applicability of the the analysis can be achieved. Furthermore, it is possible to use internal standardisation to compensate for the drift between methodology developed was confirmed by the analysis of a drinking water certified reference material.the blank and sample analysis by spiking both the blank and samples with the internal standard. In this way, it is possible Keywords: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry;to achieve determinations with an accuracy error of less than multi-elemental semiquantitative analysis 10%, which might be considered quantitative.15 However, relatively little attention has been paid to this simple strat-egy6-12,16,17 as compared with the large number of studies Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) related to the quantitative determination of a single element emerged as a result of the hyphenation between a widely or a few elements using external calibration. familiar ionisation source, the ICP, and a quadrupole massThe purpose of this work was to evaluate the possibility of filter.1,2 The high sensitivity, spectral simplicity and wide utilizing ICP-MS in the multiple semiquantitative mode, in elemental range make ICP-MS an appropriate tool for order to improve both the repeatability and accuracy of multimulti-elemental analysis.3-6 elemental analysis, and reducing data acquisition time in order The main advantage of ICP-MS is the possibility of to improve the speed and reduce the cost of analysis. Hence, determining several elements, at major, minor and trace levels, a set of operational parameters were tested and application in the same...