Analytical Services: Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emmission Spectroscopy

Lynda M. Faires, Analytical Chemistry Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory

General Use
- Simultaneous multielement analysis
- Quantitative and qualitative analysis for over 70 elements with detection limits in the parts per billion (ng/mL) to parts per million (g/mL) range
- Determination of major, minor, and trace elemental components
Examples of Applications
- Composition of metal alloys
- Trace impurities in alloys, metals, reagents, and solvents
- Analysis of geological, environmental, and biological materials
- Water analysis
- Process control
Samples
- Form: Liquids, gases, and solids; liquids are most common
- Size: 5 to 50 mL of solution, 10 to 500 mg of solids
- Preparation: Most samples are analyzed as solutions; solutions can be analyzed as received, diluted, or preconcentrated as required; solids must usually be dissolved to form solutions; gases may be analyzed directly
Limitations
- Detection limits parts per billion to parts per million
- Cannot analyze for noble gases
- Halogens and some nonmetals require vacuum spectrometer and optics
- Sensitivity poor for alkali elements, especially rubidium; cannot determine cesium
Estimated Analysis Time
- Dissolution of solids in sample preparation may require up to 16 h
- Analysis may require minutes to several hours
Capabilities of Related Techniques
- Direct-current arc emission spectrography: Samples may be analyzed directly as solids; sensitivity and quantitative precision poorer; longer analysis time required
- Atomic absorption spectroscopy: Single-element analysis; better sensitivity for most elements, especially by using electrothermal atomization, but not as good for refractory elements; more limited dynamic range