Spectral interference of polyatomic ions of Cr, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, and W in steel using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Because of the low resolution of quadrupole mass filter, polyatomic ions interfere with analyte ions in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. In order to achieve accurate results it is urgently recommended to know the kind and the amount of ions of the major concentrated elements of the sample. The matrix elements of high purity iron, low, and high alloy steels are Fe, Cr, Ni, Mn, Mo, and W. 175 different polyatomic ions of the matrix elements and those of nitric, hydrochloric, and hydrofluoric acid are experimentally determined in steel sample solutions, Signal intensities higher than a threshold of 30 counts/s have been considered as significant. 100 isotopes of 25 elements show interference at 69 m/z-values.