Application of isotope dilution analysis—inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to the precise determination of silver and antimony in pure copper

Abstract

Isotope dilution analysis combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was applied to the determination of ultra-trace levels of silver and antimony in pure copper. The precision and sensitivity for the analysis of pure metallic materials was investigated. This technique gives analytical values very close to those of the conventional standard additions method but has higher precision. By using a preconcentration technique, it is possible to determine 20 ng g^–1 of silver and 5 ng g^–1 of antimony in pure copper while keeping the analytical errors to less than 10%.