Non-spectral interferences due to the presence of sulfuric acid in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Results of a systematic study concerning non-spectral interferences from sulfuric add containing matrices on a large number of elements in inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are presented in this work. The signals obtained with sulfuric acid solutions of different concentrations (up to 5% w w(-1)) have been compared with the corresponding signals for a 1% w w(-1-) nitric acid solution at different experimental conditions (i.e., sample uptake rates, nebulizer gas flows and r.f. powers). The signals observed for Te-128(+), Se-78(+) and As-73(+) were significantly higher when using sulfuric acid matrices (up to 2.2-fold for Te-128(+) and Se-78(+) and 1.8-fold for As-73(+) in the presence of 5 w w(-1) sulfuric add) for the whole range of experimental conditions tested. This is in agreement with previously reported observations. The signal for P-31(+) is also higher (1.1-fold) in the presence of sulfuric add. The signal enhancements for Te-128(+), Se-78(+), As-73(+) and P-31(+) are explained in relation to an increase in the analyte ion population as a result of charge transfer reactions involving S+ species in the plasma. Theoretical data suggest that Os, Sb, Pt, Ir, Zn and Hg could also be involved in sulfur-based charge transfer reactions, but no experimental evidence has been found. The presence of sulfuric acid gives rise to lower ion signals (about 10-20% lower) for the other nuclides tested, thus indicating the negative matrix effect caused by changes in the amount of analyte loading of the plasma. The elemental composition of a certified low-density polyethylene sample (ERM-EC681K) was determined by ICP-MS after two different sample digestion procedures, one of them including sulfuric acid. Element concentrations were in agreement with the certified values, irrespective of the acids used for the digestion. These results demonstrate that the use of matrix-matched standards allows the accurate determination of the tested elements in a sulfuric acid matrix. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.