Determination of platinum group elements (PGE) in environmental samples by ICP-MS: a critical assessment of matrix separation for the mitigation of interferences

Abstract

The accurate determination of Pt, Pd and Rh (platinum group elements, PGE) in environmental samples by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is complicated by molecular ion and doubly charged ion interferences (e.g. CuAr+, HfO+, SrO+, YO+ and Pb2+). Two matrix separation techniques, tellurium coprecipitation and ion exchange, are compared in terms of PGE recovery and separation efficiency by application to standard solutions and the new reference material BCR-723, a road dust material collected from the Tanzenberg Tunnel in Austria. Ion exchange using Dowex AG50W-X8 strong cation exchange resin is highly effective in terms of both separation efficiency (>99.7%) and PGE recovery (93.8 to 101.6%) and allows accurate, interference-free determination of PGEs. PGE recoveries by Te coprecipitation are incomplete, ranging between 84 and 93%. Significant amounts of copper (up to c. 30%) are also recovered, which, due to CuAr + formation, causes interferences on both 103 Rh (monoisotopic) and 105 Pd. The generally high levels of interferent elements in environmental matrices (e.g. Cu, Pb etc.) and the magnitude of Cu recovery by Te coprecipitation limit the applicability of data correction using interference equations. Reductions in Cu yield by Te coprecipitation, to <4%, can be achieved through the addition of potassium iodide prior to matrix separation. However, due to the incomplete recovery of PGEs, ion exchange provides a more robust method for the determination of low levels of PGEs.

Strategic and rare elements in Cretaceous-Cenozoic cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts from seamounts in the Canary Island Seamount Province (northeastern tropical Atlantic)

“…The accuracy and precision are better than 10% for all REY. The study of PGEs was conducted using the preparation method described by Jackson et al (1990) and Li and Feng (2006) and results were recalculated considering mass interferences described by Whiteley and Murray (2005). The results are expressed in percentages for major elements, μg/g (ppm), for minor and trace elements and in ng/g (ppb), for PGEs (Table 3).…”

Oxidative Stress Induced by Pt(IV) Pro-drugs Based on the Cisplatin Scaffold and Indole Carboxylic Acids in Axial Position

“…FT-IR spectra were recorded on a PerkinElmer FT-IR spectrometer fitted with an ATR accessory. A dynamic reaction cell ICP-MS (ELAN DRCe, Perkin Elmer, Waltham, USA), equipped with a flow injection autosampler (FIAS 93 plus) was employed for platinum determination 51 52 53 54 . Instrumental operating conditions were the following: ICP RF Power 1150 W: plasma gas flow 15 L min −1 , auxiliary gas flow 1 L min −1 , nebuliser gas flow 0.93 L min −1 , observed isotopes, 192 Pt, 194 Pt, 195 Pt, 196 Pt and 198 Pt).…”

Antitumor platinum(IV) derivatives of carboplatin and the histone deacetylase inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid

“…Platinum concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS, ELAN DRCe, PerkinElmer, Waltham, USA) in a Class 1000 cleanroom [41][42][43][44]…”