Multielement atomic emission analysis of rocks, soils, and ash of plants using argon arc two-jet plasmotron and multichannel analyzer of emission spectra (MAES)

Abstract

A method of quantitative simultaneous determination of 23 trace elements (Ba, Be, Cu, Co, Cr, Ga, La, Mo, B, Ni, Pb, Sc, Sn, Sr, V, Y, Yb, Zn, Zr, Fe, Mn, P, Ti) and 6 macronutrients (Mg, Al, Si, Na, K, Ca) in soils, rocks and ash of plant material using atomic emission spectrometry is described. A two-jet argon arc plasmatron is used as the source of spectra excitation. The samples to be analyzed are introduced into the plasma flow jet by injection of an air suspension of a finely dispersed powder under gas (argon) pressure. A multichannel analyzer of emission spectra (MAES) is used for spectra recording. State standard samples of soils, rocks, and plant ash of various compositions and genesis are used as reference samples. The optimal conditions for excitation, registration of spectra and processing of the useful signal were determined to minimize the random and systematic errors of element determinations. Evaluation of the metrological characteristics, carried out using natural standard samples, revealed no significant systematic error. The relative standard deviation of the method ranges from 0.07 to 0.15, and the calculated value of the Student’s criterion for all the elements considered was shown to be less than the tabular value.