Comparison of elemental quantity by PIXE and ICP-MS and/or ICP-AES for NIST standards

Abstract

Urban particulate matter (SRM 1648), Buffalo River sediment (SRM 2704) and pine needle (SRM 1575) standard reference materials prepared by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, USA) were analyzed by three multi-element analysis methods, i.e., particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES); values determined by those analysis methods were compared with certified and/or non-certified values of NIST samples. Values determined by PIXE were 70–120% relative to certified and/or non-certified values of NIST samples except for Co in the urban particulate matter, for V and Co in Buffalo River sediment and for Ni and Br in the pine needles samples. In particular, Al, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb were 85–110% in all samples. On the other hand, Na and Fe values determined by ICP-MS were very much different from the certified values in all samples, but the other elements were 70–120%. As for ICP-AES, all elements except for Na were 80–100% in all samples. Comparing the values determined by PIXE and those determined by ICP-MS and/or ICP-AES, there was a slight difference between the samples, but the range was 75–120% except for Na, V, Fe and Co determined by ICP-MS and Na determined by ICP-AES, which was generally consistent with PIXE.