Testing the limits of ICP-MS: Determination of trace elements in ground water at the part-per-trillion level
- Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
An ICP-MS, equipped with an ultrasonic nebulizer and active-film multiplier detector, is used to attempt to determine 54 trace elements directly in ground water. Lithium, arsenic, rubidium, strontium, barium, and antimony are found in the microgram-per-liter (part-per-billion = ppb) range. Most of the other elements are present at nanogram-per-liter (part-per-trillion = ppt) concentrations. Ion exchange preconcentration is utilized in order to improve the sensitivity for measuring the rare earth elements that exist at concentrations as low as 0.05 ppt for lutetium, thulium, and terbium. The formation of molecular species in the plasma produces false positive results for some of the elements. The presence of silicon or carbon dioxide interferes with the measurement of scandium, strontium interferes with rhodium and palladium, and barium interferes with europium. Correction procedures for these interferences are discussed. All together, the concentrations of the 54 elements in water from four Nevada springs span almost seven orders of magnitude.
- OSTI ID:
- 6724432
- Journal Information:
- Ground Water; (United States), Journal Name: Ground Water; (United States) Vol. 32:6; ISSN GRWAAP; ISSN 0017-467X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
CONTAMINATION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
METALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RARE EARTHS
SPECTROSCOPY
WATER
WATER POLLUTION