Application of Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission (ICP-AES)
Spectrometry
The 7th Nordic Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry, June 1-4, 2014,
Loen, Norway
Isaac (Joe Brenner), Brenner Scientific
9 Hadishon Street, Malkha, Jerusalem, Israel, 96956
Tel +97226797255, Cell - +972-544-424403. E-mail
Joe.Brenner@mail.huji.ac.il
Abstract
Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission (ICP-AES) Spectrometry has become
the workhorse in analytical laboratories where multi element analysis has to be
performed on a wide range of materials. This short course will review basics of the
ICP, a brief overview of sample preparation, aerosol transport and introduction,
instrumentation and plasma configurations, spectroscopic and nonspectroscopic
interferences.
The course will highlight recent instrumentation developments such as microwave
plasmas and critically review benefits and drawbacks of axially vs. radially viewed
plasmas using conventional analytical figures of merit such as limits of detection,
calibration linearity, and matrix derived nonspectroscopic interferences. Several
applications will be described- determination of major, minor and trace elements in
geo-environmental, water and waste water samples.
Outline
1. Fundamental aspects of ICP-AES.
2. Sample introduction. Pneumatic, cross-flow, low-consumption, high-salt Vgroove, and desolvating nebulizers.
3. Sample preparation. Acid decomposition, fusions, sinters, open dish, hot blocks,
pressurized containers, microwave dissolution, new instrumental developments.
Advantages and disadvantages; e.g. recoveries of refractory and volatile
components. Partial digestions and extraction for determining mode of
occurrence of elements and species for environmental evaluations.
4. Compliant methods of sample preparation and analysis for analysis of waters,
wastewaters, and solid wastes (EPA 200.7, 200.8, SW-846 6010B and 6020A),
TCLP 1311
5. Instrumentation Overview Criteria for instrument selection - wavelength range,
LODs, resolution, VUV region for determination of halogens
6. Axial vs. radial ICPs Comparison using conventional figures of merit (limits of
detection, response linearity, and matrix effects).
7. Nonspectroscopic and spectroscopic interferences
a. Spectroscopic – spectral overlap, resolution, background corrections,
interference equivalent coefficients
b. Nonspectroscopic - Physical effects in aerosol generation and transport
systems. EIEs (Na, Ca), salt and acid effects, importance of spectral line
energy -. Ion vs. atom lines, memory effects.
c. Effect of ICP operating conditions (RF power, nebulizer flow rate, and
torch configuration).
d. Mg II 285/Mg I 280 ratios as matrix effect criteria and instrument set up.
e. Methanol – methane effect on high ionization potential elements
f. Setup, calibration, internal standards, calibration and interference
checks,
8. Conclusions and discussions
Course Instructor's Biography
Joe Brenner specializes in geo-environmental analytical science and technologies. He
is actively involved in compliant instrumental and methods development for solution
and solids analysis using ICP-AES and ICP-MS. He focusses in preparing
environmental laboratories for ISO/EC 17025 accreditation using Standard Methods
and US EPA 200.7, 200.8, 6010c and 6020A procedures, including sampling
strategies, preparation of SOPs, instruction, QA/QC and data interpretation.
He obtained his Ph.D. in Geochemistry from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
in 1980. Joe was a guest professor in several academic institutions - Technical
University Graz, Austria, Earth Dynamics Science Center, National Cheng Kung
University in Taiwan). Joe Brenner was a guest scientist in the Laboratoire de Chimie
Analytique Bio Inorganique et Environnement, (LCABIE) CNRS, Pau, France, Chuo
University, Tokyo, Japan, Faculty of Chemistry, Autonoma University, Barcelona,
Spain).
He was Head of Application in Jobin Yvon in Longjumeau, France in the 1980s; a
senior scientist in the Varian Research Center, Palo Alto, California, USA
in the
1990s. In these positions, he developed analytical methodologies for ICP-AES using
radial and axially viewed ICPs and evaluated the performances of commercial
instruments. Brenner was a consulting scientist for ICP-AES and MS application and
marketing mainly in Thermo Fisher Scientific in Madrid.
Brenner is currently an adviser for compliant analysis of waters and wastes at
EGODAN in Israel, the authority for controlling and recycling effluents.
Joe Brenner has delivered more than 600 oral presentations, short courses, round
table discussions, at universities, international symposiums, research institutes, and
instrument manufacturers; he has 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications