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R9 Laboratory SOP 503
DETERMINATION OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN SOLIDS BY INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA - ATOMIC EMISSION SPECTROMETRY
Summary
This SOP provides procedures for the determination of trace elements in solution by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) in environmental samples. It is applicable to sediments, sludges, solids and soils. The samples are analyzed using the TJA ICAP-61E. The preparation of samples analyzed in this method is detailed in Region 9 SOP #405. This SOP is based on EPA Method 6010B.
A representative 1 gram (wet weight) aliquot of a well-mixed sediment, sludge, solid or soil sample is accurately weighed and digested using the appropriate sample preparation method (Region 9 SOP #405).
The method describes the multi-elemental determination of trace elements in digestate solutions by ICP-AES using a simultaneous instrument. The instrument measures the characteristic atomic-line emission spectra by optical spectrometry. Samples are nebulized and the resulting aerosol is transported to the plasma torch. Element specific emission spectra are produced by a radio-frequency inductively coupled plasma. The spectra are dispersed by a grating spectrometer, and the intensities of the line spectra are monitored at specific wavelengths by a photosensitive device. Photo currents from the photosensitive device are processed and controlled by a computer system. A background correction technique is required to compensate for variable background contribution to the determination of the analytes. Background must be measured adjacent to the analyte wavelength during analysis.