Determination of trace metals in a river water reference material by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Abstract

The detection power of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and its capacity for rapid multielement analysis were demonstrated by the analysis of a riverine water reference material. Fifteen elements (Na, Mg, K, Ca, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Sr, Mo, Sb, Ba, and U) were determined directly while five (As, Co, Ni, Cd, and Pb) required a preconcentration prior to analysis, either by evaporation (As) or by chelation by silica-immobilized 8-hydroxyquinoline (Co, Ni, Cd, and Pb). Accurate results were obtained by external calibration, standard additions, or isotope dilution techniques. However, stable isotope dilution generally gives the most accurate and precise results.