Potts, P.J. and Webb, P.C. and Thompson, Michael (2015) Bias in the determination of Zr, Y and rare earth element concentrations in selected silicate rocks by ICP-MS when using some routine acid dissolution procedures: evidence from the GeoPT proficiency testing programme. Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research 39 (3), pp. 315-327. ISSN 1639-4488.
Abstract
The analytical results for the modified river sediment, SdAR-1 circulated in Round 31 of the GeoPT proficiency testing programme, revealed unexpected discrepancies for Zr, Y and most higher atomic number rare earth elements, in determinations made by ICP-MS using acid attack digestion methods. This investigation compares these ICP-MS results with those obtained for SdAR-1 by three other methods: (a) ICP-MS using fusion/sintering for sample digestion, (b) XRF analysis and (c) INAA. The distribution of results for the elements Rb, Sr, Ce, Y, Yb and Zr is examined and compared with those of the test material for Round 25 of GeoPT, Paraná basalt, HTB-1. A substantial proportion (though not all) of Y, Yb and Zr determinations in SdAR-1 by ICP-MS/acid attack was variably low (sometimes very low) compared with other methods. A detailed evaluation of the procedures used to determine these results indicated that successful determinations by ICP-MS/acid attack could be made if digestions were made at 180 °C for 48 hr using at least 2 ml HF per 100 mg of sample. We suggest that the more benign conditions (used by many laboratories) resulted in incomplete digestion of resistant minerals, such as zircon.
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Keyword(s) / Subject(s): | proficiency testing, ICP-MS, acid attack, bias, incomplete digestion, zircon |
| School: | Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science > School of Natural Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Administrator |
| Date Deposited: | 09 Mar 2015 17:23 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Aug 2023 17:15 |
| URI: | https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/11817 |
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