Determination of trace elements in sea water by ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Abstract

The determination of trace elements in sea water was carried out by means of ion chromatography (IC) coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The elimination of the matrix by the chromatographic technique allowed the determination of about twenty elements (rare earths, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn Pb and U) at ultra-trace levels. The calibration of the ICP-MS system was carried out using multi-elemental standard aqueous solutions. The use of a multi-elemental technique such as ICP-MS permitted the throughput of samples to be increased because the separation of the different analytes was not required. The detection limits obtained for most of the elements were in the range 1–50 ng/l and the recovery for all the elements under analysis was quantitative.