Calcium fluoride as a dominating matrix for quantitative analysis by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS): A feasibility study

Abstract

Calcium fluoride formed by the reaction between ammonium bifluoride and calcium chloride was 21 investigated as a dominating matrix for quantitative analysis by laser ablation inductively coupled 22 plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Transformation from a solid sample to the calcium 23 fluoride-based matrix permitted quantitative analysis based on calibration standards made from 24 elemental standards. A low abundance stable calcium isotope, i.e. 44 Ca + , was monitored as the 25 internal standard for quantitative analysis by LA-ICP-MS. Correlation coefficient factors for 26 multiple elements were obtained with values over 0.999. The results for multiple elements in a 27 certified reference material of soil (NIST SRM 2710a) agreed with the certified values in the range 28 of expanded uncertainty, indicating the present method was valid for quantitation of elements in 29 solid samples.

Atomic spectrometry update – a review of advances in environmental analysis

“…An investigation of the utility of CaF 2 as a dominating matrix for quantitative analysis by LA-ICP-MS used 164 NIST SRM 2719a (Montana soil) as its test substrate. A mixture of 0.3 g NH 4 HF 2 + 0.65 g CaCl 2 + 0.05 g soil was heated in an electric furnace, ground and pressed into a pellet for analysis.…”