Evaluation of operational parameters affecting semiquantitative multi-elemental analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Abstract

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...

Comparative efficacy of two standard methods for determination of iron and zinc in fruits, pulses and cereals

“…This strategy is time consuming and it is not easy to have a complete set of the multi-element standards required for the calibration. A third option, the semi-quantitative mode of analysis, is a versatile application of ICP-MS that it is claimed to allow the determination of about 80 elements with errors <20 % for most elements (Laborda et al 2001;Soldevilla et al 1998;Amarasiriwardena et al 1997). This methodology has been successively applied to samples of different nature and origin, like biological (Amarasiriwardena et al 1997;Krushevska et al 1996;Alonso et al 1997), environmental (Alonso et al 1997), industrial (Hu et al 1997), food (Castillo et al 1999;Jakubowski et al 1999;Castineira et al 2001) and plastics (Fordham et al 1995) samples.…”

An Evaluation of the Effects of Primary and Cross‐Contamination during the Preparation of Rock Powders for Chemical Determinations

“…also Soldevila et al . , p. 803). Eight elements (some major ones, such as Ca and Al, and a few with no published values) were not determined.…”

“…Otherwise, significant error could arise, particularly because of matrix effects and the variation of response time in different solutions. Soldevila et al (1998) suggest the use of an analyte as an internal calibrator to calculate response factors adjusted to each sample based on the same RM and sample matrices. In this work, the TotalQuant TM method was used only to verify which elements could be selected for quantitative determination by ICP-MS or another more suitable technique.…”

Spark Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Applied to the Semi-Quantitative Panoramic Analysis of Ferroalloys

“…The m ass ranges were restricted to those of known interest in order to m inimize the sparking time; nevertheless these ranges can be adequate to any need. A dwell time of 250 ms and 2 replicates (as was recomm ended by Soldevila et al 23 ) was used in order to obtain the best repeatability in a short m easurement time, thus m inimizing the risk of drift and particle deposition along the system. All the parameters used are presented in Table I.…”