Issue 2, 2013

Tungsten coil electrothermal matrix decomposition and sample vaporization to determine P and Si in biodiesel by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Abstract

A tungsten coil extracted from commercially available microscope light bulbs is used to decompose the organic matrix and vaporize biodiesel samples for P and Si determination by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ETV-ICP-MS). The vaporization cell is connected to a modified sheath gas tube so that sample vapors are mixed with a continuous aerosol flow exiting the ICP-MS nebulization chamber. Helium and H2 are used with a collision–reaction interface (CRI) to minimize spectral interferences and obtain low baseline spectra. These strategies contribute to improving repeatability and accuracy. A small solid state constant current power supply is used to resistively heat the vaporizer and 10 μl sample aliquots are introduced manually on the coil with a micropipette. Limits of detection of 0.4 and 0.1 mg kg−1 are obtained for P and Si, respectively. Reference biodiesel samples are used to check the accuracy of the procedure for P. A spike experiment is carried out to assess accuracy in Si determinations. No statistically significant differences are observed for reference and determined values by applying a t-test at a 95% confidence level. The direct analysis of biodiesel by tungsten coil ETV-ICP-MS is a fast and effective alternative to determine challenging elements like P and Si.

Graphical abstract: Tungsten coil electrothermal matrix decomposition and sample vaporization to determine P and Si in biodiesel by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Article information

Article type
Technical Note
Submitted
15 Oct 2012
Accepted
27 Nov 2012
First published
28 Nov 2012

J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2013,28, 280-287

Tungsten coil electrothermal matrix decomposition and sample vaporization to determine P and Si in biodiesel by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

G. L. Donati, R. S. Amais and J. A. Nóbrega, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2013, 28, 280 DOI: 10.1039/C2JA30306J

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