EPA-RCA: 6010 C: Trace elements in solution by ICP AES

Summary
Analytes
Revisions
Data and Sites

Official Method Name

Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES)

Current Revision

Revision 3.0, November 2000

Media

VARIOUS

Instrumentation

Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy

Method Subcategory

Inorganic

Method Source

EPA-RCA

Citation

SW-846 Online: Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods

Brief Method Summary

This method describes multi-elemental determinations by ICP-AES using sequential or simultaneous optical systems and axial or radial viewing of the plasma. The instrument measures characteristic emission spectra by optical spectrometry. Samples are nebulized and the resulting aerosol is transported to the plasma torch. Element-specific emission spectra are produced by a radio-frequency inductively coupled plasma. The spectra are dispersed by a grating spectrometer, and the intensities of the emission lines are monitored by photosensitive devices.

Scope and Application

Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) may be used to determine trace elements in solution. The method is applicable to all of the elements listed below. With the exception of groundwater samples, all aqueous and solid matrices require acid digestion prior to analysis. Groundwater samples that have been prefiltered and acidified will not need acid digestion. Samples which are not digested require either an internal standard or should be matrix-matched with the standards. If either option is used, instrument software should be programmed to correct for intensity differences of the internal standard between samples and standards. Refer to Chapter Three for the appropriate digestion procedures.

Applicable Concentration Range

None given.

Interferences

I. SPECTRAL INTERFERENCES: (1) Background emmission or stray light. (2) Spectral overlap of emissions.
II. PHYSICAL INTERFERENCES: High viscosity or high particulate levels of sample can clog nebulizer.
III. CHEMICAL INTERFERENCES: (1) Compound formation. (2) Ionization. (3) Solute-vaporization.
IV. MEMORY INTERFERENCES: Carry-over from sample.

Quality Control Requirements

(see ch. 1), CB, MB, ICV, CCV, MSD

Sample Handling

See SW-846 Chapter Three for information.

Maximum Holding Time

See SW-846 Chapter Three for information.

Relative Cost

$201 to $400

Sample Preparation Methods

This method has 29 analytes associated with it.

Analyte	Detection Level	Bias	Precision	Spiking Level
Aluminum(7429-90-5) Al Aluminium Aluminum Aluminum (fume or dust) Aluminum powder	30.000 ug/L	103% Rec (ML)	33.00 % RSD (ML)	60.00 ug/L
Antimony(7440-36-0) Antimony Sb Stibium	21.000 ug/L	N/A	N/A
Arsenic(7440-38-2) Arsenic As	35.000 ug/L	86% Rec (ML)	23.00 % RSD (ML)	22.00 ug/L
Barium(7440-39-3) Ba Barium	0.870 ug/L	N/A	N/A
Beryllium(7440-41-7) Be Beryllium Glucinium	0.180 ug/L	100% Rec (ML)	9.80 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Boron(7440-42-8) B Boron Boron (Boron and Borates only)	3.800 ug/L	N/A	N/A
Cadmium(7440-43-9) Cadmium Cd	2.300 ug/L	116% Rec (ML)	16.00 % RSD (ML)	2.50 ug/L
Calcium(7440-70-2) Ca Calcium	6.700 ug/L	N/A	N/A
Chromium(7440-47-3) Chromium Cr	4.700 ug/L	100% Rec (ML)	18.00 % RSD (ML)	10.00 ug/L
Cobalt(7440-48-4) Co Cobalt	4.700 ug/L	100% Rec (ML)	4.10 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Copper(7440-50-8) Copper Copper (metallic) Cu	3.600 ug/L	100% Rec (ML)	40.00 % RSD (ML)	11.00 ug/L
Iron(7439-89-6) Fe Iron	4.100 ug/L	95% Rec (ML)	15.00 % RSD (ML)	20.00 ug/L
Lead(7439-92-1) Lead Lead and compounds (inorganic) Lead and lead compounds Pb	28.000 ug/L	125% Rec (ML)	32.00 % RSD (ML)	24.00 ug/L
Lithium(7439-93-2) Li Lithium	2.800 ug/L	N/A	N/A
Magnesium(7439-95-4) Magnesium Mg	20.000 ug/L	N/A	N/A
Manganese(7439-96-5) Manganese Mn	0.930 ug/L	100% Rec (ML)	6.70 % RSD (ML)	15.00 ug/L
Mercury(7439-97-6) Hg Hydrargyrum Liquid silver Mercury Mercury (inorganic) Quicksilver	17.000 ug/L	N/A	N/A
Molybdenum(7439-98-7) Amperit 105.054 Amperit 106.2 EINECS 231-107-2 HSDB 5032 MChVL Metco 63 Mo Molybdenum Molybdenum, metallic TsM1	5.300 ug/L	N/A	N/A
Nickel(7440-02-0) Ni Nickel Nickel, soluble salts Raney Nickel (R)	10.000 ug/L	93% Rec (ML)	11.00 % RSD (ML)	30.00 ug/L
Phosphorus(7723-14-0) Black phosphorus P Phosphorous, Red Phosphorus Phosphorus (yellow or white) Red phosphorus Violet phosphorus White phosphorus Yellow phosphorus	51.000 ug/L	N/A	N/A
Selenium(7782-49-2) Se Selenium Selenium and Compounds	50.000 ug/L	142% Rec (ML)	42.00 % RSD (ML)	6.00 ug/L
Silica(7631-86-9) Cab-O-Sil-St-2-0 Diatomaceous Earth SiO2 Silica Silicon dioxide Zeolex 7A	17.000 ug/L	N/A	N/A
Silver(7440-22-4) Ag Silver	4.700 ug/L	N/A	N/A
Sodium(7440-23-5) Na Natrium Sodium	19.000 ug/L	N/A	N/A
Strontium(7440-24-6) Sr Strontium	0.280 ug/L	N/A	N/A
Thallium(7440-28-0) Thallium Tl	27.000 ug/L	N/A	N/A
Tin(7440-31-5) Sn Tin	17.000 ug/L	N/A	N/A
Vanadium(7440-62-2) V Vanadium Vanadium (fume or dust)	5.000 ug/L	99% Rec (ML)	2.90 % RSD (ML)	70.00 ug/L
Zinc(7440-66-6) Zinc Zinc (fume or dust) Zinc and Compounds Zn	1.200 ug/L	119% Rec (ML)	45.00 % RSD (ML)	16.00 ug/L

Precision Descriptor Notes:	Data from an EPA round-robin Phase 1 study. Seven participant laboratories applied the ICP technique to acid distilled water matrices that had been spiked with various metal concentrates. The data is taken directly from Table 4 of the method. NOTE: Not all laboratories reported results for all analytes. For example, only two laboratories reported results for selenium.
Detection Level Note:	Estimated instrument detection limits at monitoring wavelengths specified in Table 1 of the Method.

Revision	PDF/Link
Revision 3.0, November 2000
Revision 5, July 2018

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EPA-RCA: 6010 C: Trace elements in solution by ICP AES

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