Testing the Limits of ICP‐MS: Determination of Trace Elements in Ground Water at the Part‐Per‐Trillion Level

Abstract

An ICP‐MS, equipped with an ultrasonic nebulizer and active‐film multiplier detector, is used to attempt to determine 54 trace elements directly in ground water. Lithium, arsenic, rubidium, strontium, barium, and antimony are found in the microgram‐per‐liter (part‐per‐billion = ppb) range. Most of the other elements are present at nanogram‐per‐liter (part‐per‐trillion = ppt) concentrations. Ion exchange preconcentration is utilized in order to improve the sensitivity for measuring the rare earth elements that exist at concentrations as low as 0.05 ppt for lutetium, thulium, and terbium. The formation of molecular species in the plasma produces false positive results for some of the elements. The presence of silicon or carbon dioxide interferes with the measurement of scandium, strontium interferes with rhodium and palladium, and barium interferes with europium. Correction procedures for these interferences are discussed. All together, the concentrations of the 54 elements in water from four Nevada springs span almost seven orders of magnitude.

Geochemical signature of aquitard pore water and its paleo-environment implications in Caofeidian Harbor, China

“…(Johannesson and Hendry, 2000). The measured oxide yield CeO + /Ce was generally <0.4%, which is more accurate than the figure of >1% reported in other studies (Stetzenbach et al, 1994;Johannesson et al, 1997). Interference from BaO + /Ba + on Eu was less than 3% by extraction of Ba from aliquots of each sample using di-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (Guo et al, 2010).…”

Rare earth element concentrations in dissolved and acid available particulate forms for eastern UK rivers

“…Within the tables only average and maximum values are quoted to avoid issues of detection level for the lower concentrations. The REE elements determined were Y, La, Ce, Nd, Sm and Gd: Sc was also assayed but the data may be incorrect due to potential interference effects (Stetzenback et al, 1994): hence these data are not presented here.…”

“…Within these studies, a wide range of water quality determinands was measured and the use of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) allowed the assessment of many trace elements including Y and the lighter lanthanides (La through to Sm). A compendium of averages and ranges in concentration and fluxes of the elements is provided by Neal and Robson (2000) and Neal and Davies (2003): data on Sc were also presented but the data may well be in error due to interference from silicon in the ICPMS methodology (Stetzenback et al, 1994).…”

Physicochemical properties and the concentration of anions, major and trace elements in groundwater, treated drinking water and bottled drinking water in Najran area, KSA

“…Exposure to trace and toxic elements often occurs through drinking water. Concentrations of major and trace elements (essential and toxic) in drinking water have been investigated in several previous studies (Avino et al 2011;Birke et al 2010;Da Silva et al 2000;Dinelli et al 2012;Lee et al 1999;Stetzenbach et al 1994). Studies have been carried out recently on drinking water quality in Riyadh, KSA (Al-Saleh and Al-Doush 1998;Hashem 1993;Khanfar 2010;Al Nouri et al 2014); however, only a limited range of parameters were investigated.…”