Simple method for the dissolution of atmospheric aerosol samples for analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A dissolution method for atmospheric aerosol samples should be simple and quantitative with the least possibility for contamination as the trace element concentrations and masses in these samples are very low; the masses are often between 100 and 1000 pg. A simple procedure, in which the aerosol sample is dissolved at room temperature in a disposable test-tube in an HNO3-HF mixture (3+1), is presented. There are no evaporative losses, the elements are dissolved quantitatively and the possibilities for contamination are minimized. The elemental concentrations are determined by ICP-MS. The blank values for the aerosol collection membrane filters, reagents and test-tubes are presented. The accuracy and precision of the method were assessed with SRMs. For NIST SRM 1633a Coal Ply Ash, the recoveries for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, U, V, Zn, Be, Ca, Co, Mg, Mn, Mo, Sb, Sr, Ti and T1 were over 90%. For NIST SRM 1648 Urban Particulate Matter, the recoveries varied between 80 and 98% for the elements Al, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, It, Nil Pb, Se, U, V and Zn. The results for real atmospheric samples dissolved by this method were compared with results for Al, Mn, Na and V obtained by instrumental NAA. The results showed good agreement, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.970 to 0.988 and slopes from 0.92 to 1.10.