Ultra-trace determination of Se in sediments by electrothermal vaporizer-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy: use of the ETV as a thermochemical reactor

• Published in: Spectrochimica acta. Part B: Atomic spectroscopy Vol. 54; no. 3; pp. 443 - 453
• Main Authors: Lam, Joseph W.H, Sturgeon, Ralph E, McLaren, James W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 1999; Amsterdam Elsevier Science; New York, NY
• Subjects: Analysis methods; Analytical chemistry; Applied sciences; Chemistry; Electrothermal vaporization; Exact sciences and technology; ICP-MS; Isotope dilution; Matrix modification; Pollution; Selenium; Soil and sediments pollution; Spectrometric and optical methods; Matrix modification; Isotope dilution; Electrothermal vaporization; ICP-MS; Selenium; Trace analysis; Chemical analysis; Coupled method; Soil pollution; Inductive coupling plasma spectrometry; Sediments; Certified reference material; Citric acid; Environmental control; Chemical modification; Thermoelectric atomization; Mass spectrometry
• ISSN: 0584-8547; 1873-3565
• DOI: 10.1016/S0584-8547(98)00255-9

The performance of electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ETV-ICP-MS) was evaluated for the ultra-trace determination of total selenium in sediment reference materials. Citric acid, when combined with an appropriate thermal program, promoted the early release of Se in a molecular form from the graphite surface, effecting a separation of the analyte from the concomitant matrix, thereby demonstrating the use of the ETV as a thermochemical reactor. No special sample pretreatment is needed and an absolute detection limit of 10 pg was achieved. Concentrations of Se in different sediment CRMs were determined and results obtained by both isotope dilution (ID) and standard addition (SA) methodologies were compared and evaluated. Mass bias effects prevented accurate application of ID techniques.