Optimization of operating conditions of axially and radially viewed plasmas for the determination of trace element concentrations from ultrasound-assisted digests of soil samples contaminated by lead .pdfVIP

Analytica Chimica Acta 570 (2006) 93–100 Optimization of operating conditions of axially and radially viewed plasmas for the determination of trace element concentrations from ultrasound-assisted digests of soil samples contaminated by lead pellets Ari Va¨isa¨nen ?, Aki Ilander University of Jyva¨skyla¨, Department of Chemistry, P.O.Box 35, FIN-40014, University of Jyva¨skyla¨, Finland Received 10 February 2006; received in revised form 4 April 2006; accepted 5 April 2006 Available online 25 April 2006 Abstract The method of ultrasound-assisted extraction followed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) used for the determination of trace element concentrations (arsenic, copper, lead, antimony, and zinc) in shooting range areas was optimized. Optimization was achieved not only on the basis of the analysis of appropriate standard reference materials but also on that of 31 synthetic mixtures of matrix and analyte elements (aluminum, antimony, arsenic, calcium, copper, lead, iron, manganese, silicon, and zinc), in ?ve concentrations. All the measurements were performed in robust plasma conditions which were tested by measuring the Mg II 280.270 nm/Mg I 285.213 nm line intensity ratio. The highest Mg II 280.270 nm/Mg I 285.213 nm line intensity ratios were observed when a nebulizer gas ?ow of 0.8 L min?1, auxiliary gas ?ow of 0.2 L min?1 and plasma power of 1400 W were used for both the axially and radially viewed plasmas. The analysis of 31 synthetic mixtures of the selected elements showed that As concentrations could be accurately determined with axially viewed plasma alone. The determination of Pb and Sb could be performed with either axially or radially viewed plasma whereas, surprisingly, Cu could be determined with high accuracy using radial plasma alone with a power of 1400 W. All the elements investigated were determined with high accuracy using robust plasma conditions and a combination of axially and radially viewed plasmas. The