Use of FIA systems for on-line dilution in multielement determination by ICP-MS

Abstract

A flow-injection (FI) system to match concentrations was used as an auto-diluter in multielement determination by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The flow system comprised loop-based injection or a timed valve that introduced a variable sample volume into a spray chamber through a standard Meinhard nebulizer of an ICP-MS. Routinely analyzed samples such as water, plant, and steel were selected. The accuracy of multielement determination was checked against water standard reference material linear plot with good precision [relative standard deviation (RSD) Ͻ 3%, n ‫ס‬ 12]. The results were in agreement at a 95% confidence level with the certified values for the reference materials and also with those obtained by continuous aspiration and by (FI) with a discrete volume.