Journal of Chromatography & Separation Techniques
Open Access

Determination of rare earth elements and Nobel metals in rock samples by inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry

International Summit on Current Trends in Mass Spectrometry

July 13-15, 2015 New Orleans, USA

Fedyunina Natalia1, 2, Seregina Irina2 and Bolshov Mikhail2, 3

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Chromatogr Sep Tech

Abstract :

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is the most widely used technique for determination of rare earth elements (REEs) and Nobel metals (NMs) in different types of rock samples. The rock sample digestion stage should provide the completeness of the analyte transfer from a solid sample to liquid phase and, if possible, the minimization of the matrix elements concentration in the final solution. The concentration of elements in the solution to be analyzed after digestion of rock samples is reduced by one to two orders of magnitude. Besides, the spectral and non-spectral interferences caused by high concentrations of matrix elements reduce the sensitivity of mass spectrometric determination. Therefore, the preconcentration stage is usually needed. Different methods of rock sample digestion for final analysis by ICP-MS technique were investigated. To avoid problems with the introduction in ICP (the variation of plasma temperature, contamination of the sample introduction system and clogging of the cones) of high total dissolved solid concentrated solutions after fusion and compensate the loss of sensitivity preconcentration using Pol-DETATA (diethyltriaminetetraacetate), hyper-cross linked polystyrene and Strata X-AW (with ethylenediamine groups) sorbents were tested. Flow-injection mode was used for organic and high acidity eluates introduction to ICP-MS.