Semi-quantitative panoramic analysis of industrial samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is shown to be ideally suited as a survey tool, allowing semi-quantitative determination of over 70 elements in less than 3 min. This semi-quantitative panoramic survey ability was demonstrated using three certified reference materials of different origin. The accuracy of the results obtained is well within +/-50% of the corresponding certified values. For most of the elements, the detection limit is well below 1 mu g/l. The main difficulties encountered are spectral interferences and matrix-induced signal suppression. Finally, using a simple analysis protocol and practical ways to overcome matrix effects and spectral interferences encountered, a number of different samples from industrial origin were successfully analysed, as was illustrated using recovery experiments. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.