Optical Emission Inductively Coupled Plasma in Environmental Analysis
Environment: Water and Waste
Mark E. Tatro,
Dulasiri Amarasiriwardena,
Mark E. Tatro
Spectra Spectroscopy & Chromatography Specialists, Inc., Warwick, NY, USA
Search for more papers by this authorDulasiri Amarasiriwardena
School of Natural Science, Hampshire College, Amherst, MA, USA
Search for more papers by this authorMark E. Tatro,
Dulasiri Amarasiriwardena,
Mark E. Tatro
Spectra Spectroscopy & Chromatography Specialists, Inc., Warwick, NY, USA
Search for more papers by this authorDulasiri Amarasiriwardena
School of Natural Science, Hampshire College, Amherst, MA, USA
Search for more papers by this authorFirst published: 14 December 2021
Update based on the previous version of this article by Mark E. Tatro and Dulasiri Amarasiriwardena, Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry, © 2000, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Abstract
The ability of the ICP-OES (or AES) [inductively coupled plasma-optical (or atomic) emission spectroscopy] system to perform multielement trace metal analysis of environmental samples provided commercial laboratories with the needed incentive to enter into the business of efficient trace metal analysis. Previously, trace metals were typically analyzed using colorimetric techniques, which were both cumbersome and subject to interferences, or flame atomic absorption techniques, which although almost interference free, were labor intensive owing to their one element at a time analytical mode. Even the furnace atomic absorption technique, for years the standard bearer of low-level trace metal analysis, is giving way to axial and radial viewed ICP-OES techniques. Now, ICP-OES has become an affordable and well-established multielement analytical method for environmental sample analysis. The method has been successfully applied for wide range of sample matrices and analytical applications, and the availability of new generation of High-resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy [(HR)-ICP-OES] has offered new opportunities.
Taking the USEPA (the United States Environmental Protection Agency) SW-846 solid waste analysis manual as an example, this article reviews the methods used for the preparation of samples and the ICP-OES analysis of the prepared samples for trace metals in environmental matrices. This review includes recent developments in front-end improvements in ICP-OES and detailed overview of the quality control (QC) requirements for environmental ICP-OES analysis.
References
- 1 A. Montaser, D.W. Gollightly (eds.), Inductively Coupled Plasmas in Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 2nd edition, VCH Publishers Inc, New York, NY, 1992.
- 2 A. Montaser (ed.), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, 1st edition, Wiley-VCH Publishers Inc., New York, NY, 1998.
- 3D. Beauchemin, ‘A Comparison of ICP Atomic Spectrometry’, Spectroscopy (Eugene), 7(7), 12–18 (1992).
- 4D. Harvey, Modern Analytical Chemistry, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, Boston, 2000.
- 5D.C. Harris, Quantitative Analytical Chemistry, 8th edition, Ch. 5, W.H. Freeman Company, New York, 2010.
- 6G.L. Donati, R.S. Amais, ‘Fundamentals and New Approaches to Calibration in Atomic Spectrometry’, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 34, 2353–2369 (2019). DOI: 10.1039/C9JA00273A
- 7G. Drava, V. Minganti, ‘Influence of an Internal Standard in Axial ICP OES Analysis of Trace Elements in Plant Materials’, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 35, 301 (2020). DOI: 10.1039/c9ja00372j
- 8R.K. Winge, V.A. Fassel, R.N. Kniseley, E. Kalb, W.J. Haas Jr., ‘Determination of Trace Elements in Soft, Hard, and Saline Waters by the ICP Multi-Element Atomic Emission Spectroscopic Technique’, Spectrochim. Acta, Part B, 32, 327 (1977).
- 9 USEPA-ICP Users Group, Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometric Method for Trace Element Analysis of Water and Wastes — Method 200.7, (Edited by T. D. Martin and J. F. Kopp) Method 200.7, Rev. 1.0, printed 1979 and published in 1982 in Methods for the Determination of Metals in Environmental Samples – Supplement 1, USEPA Office of Research and Development, EPA/600/R-94/111, 1994.
- 10 R.E. Wagner (ed.), Guide to Environmental Analytical Methods, 4th edition, Genium Publishing Corporation, Schenectady, NY, 1998.
- 11G.A. Meyer, ‘A Review of Sequential and Simultaneous ICP Spectrometers for Trace Metal Analysis’, Anal. Chem., 59, 1345A–1354A (1987).
- 12V.A. Letourneau, B.M. Joshi, L.C. Butler, ‘Comparison of Furnace AA Spectral Interferences between a Continuum and Zeeman Background Correction Spectrometer’, At. Spectrosc., 8(5), 149 (1987).
- 13D.E. Dobb, J. Heitschmidt, T.M. Hall, ‘A Comparison of Radial and Axial-Viewed ICP/AES Instruments for the Determination of As, Ag, Cd, Pb, Se and Tl in Environmental Samples’, The Pittsburgh Conference, Chicago, IL, 5 March, Paper 238P, 1996.
- 14M.E. Tatro, L.C. Camp, R.K. Christenberry, ‘Analysis of As, Pb, Se and Tl in Solid Waste using a Simultaneous Trace Analyzer ICP’, Spectroscopy, 9(7), 36 (1994).
- 15J.T. Creed, C.A. Brockhoff, T.D. Martin, ‘Method 200.8, Determination of Trace Elements in Waters and Wastes by Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry’, Revision 5.4 1994, http://web1.er.usgs.gov/nemi/method_pdf/4665.pdf (accessed December), 2007.
- 16K.L. Linge, ‘Trace Element Determination by ICP-AES and ICP-MS: Development and Applications Reported During 2004–2005’, Geostand. Geoanalytical Res., 30, 157–174 (2006).
- 17J.M. Mermet, ‘Is It Still Possible, Necessary, and Beneficial to Perform Research in ICP-Atomic Emission Spectrometry?’, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 20, 11–16 (2005).
- 18J. Dennaud, A. Howes, E. Poussel, J.-M. Mermet, ‘Study of Ionic-to-Atomic Line Intensity Ratios for Two Axial Viewing-Based Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometers’, Spectrochim. Acta Part B, 56, 101–112 (2001).
- 19M. Duffy, R. Thomas, ‘Benefits of a Dual-View ICP/OES for the Determination of B, P and S in Low Alloy Steels’, At. Spectrosc., 17(3), 128 (1996).
- 20P. Sarojam, Analysis of Wastewater for Metals using ICP-OES, Application Note, PerkinElmer, Inc., Shelton, USA, 2010.
- 21M. Krachler, R. Alvarez-Sarandes, S. Van Winckel, ‘Elemental and Isotopic Analysis of Americium in Non-Separated Spent Fuels Using High Resolution ICP-OES and Sector Field ICP-MS’, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 29, 817–824 (2014).
- 22M. Krachler, R. Alvarez-Sarandes, S. Van Winckel, ‘Improved Plutonium Concentration Analysis in Specimens Originating from the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Using High Resolution ICP-OES’, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 30, 1655–1662 (2015).
- 23W. Deng, Y. Liu, G. Wei, X. Li, X. Tu, L. Xie, H. Zhang, W. Sun, ‘High-Precision Analysis of Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca Ratios in Corals by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry’, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 25, 84–87 (2010).
- 24C.L. Kahakachchi, D.A. Moore, ‘Speciation of Gadolinium in Gadolinium-Based Magnetic Resonance Imaging Agents by High Performance Liquid Chromatography Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry’, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2, 1389–1396 (2009).
- 25P. Krystek, A. Ulrich, C.C. Garcia, S. Manohar, R. Ritsema, ‘Application of Plasma Spectrometry for the Analysis of Engineered Nanoparticles in Suspensions and Products’, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 26, 1701–1721 (2011).
- 26P. Dorjee, D. Amarasiriwardena, B. Xing, ‘Antimony Adsorption by Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles (nZVI): Ion Chromatography–Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (IC–ICP-MS) Study’, Microchem. J., 116, 15–23 (2014).
- 27G. Cheng, M. He, H. Peng, B. Hu, ‘Dithizone Modified Magnetic Nanoparticles for Fast and Selective Solid Phase Extraction of Trace Elements in Environmental and Biological Samples Prior to Their Determination by ICP-OES’, Talanta, 88, 507–515 (2012). DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2011.11.025
- 28C. Morrison, H. Sun, Y. Yao, R.A. Loomis, W.E. Buhro, ‘Methods for the ICP-OES Analysis of Semiconductor Materials’, Chem. Mater., 32(5), 1760–1768 (2020). DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.0c00255
- 29M.S. Wheal, L.T. Palmer, ‘Chloride Analysis of Botanical Samples by ICP-OES’, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 25, 1946–1952 (2010).
- 30K. Neubauer, L. Thompson, ‘Close Enough: The Value of Semiquantitative Analysis’, Spectroscopy, 26(5), 24–31 (2011).
- 31L.C. Trevizan, V.S. Fernando, A.R.A. Nogueira, J.A. Nóbrega, ‘Evaluation of a Rapid Semi-Quantitative Analysis Approach Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry With Axial Viewing’, Microchem. J., 86(1), 60–74 (2007). DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2006.10.004
- 32D. Amarasiriwardena, S.F. Durrant, A. Laszitity, A. Krushevska, M.D. Argentine, R.M. Barnes, ‘Evaluation of Semi-Quantitative Analysis of Biological Materials by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, Dulasiri Amarasiriwardena’, Microchem. J., 56, 352–372 (1997). DOI: 10.1006/mchj.1997.1454
- 33C. Baird, ‘ Toxic Heavy Metals, Chapter 7’, in Environmental Chemistry, 2nd edition, W.H. Freeman and Co., New York, 381–418, 1999.
- 34E.H. Hansen, M. Miro, ‘How Flow-Injection Analysis (FIA) Over the Past 25 Years has Changed Our Way of Performing Chemical Analyses?’, TrAC, Trends Anal. Chem., 26(3), 18–26 (2006).
- 35J.S. Becker, ‘Trace and Ultra Trace Analysis in Liquids by Atomic Spectrometry’, TrAC, Trends Anal. Chem., 24(3), 243–254 (2003).
- 36J.W. Olesik, J.A. Hartshorne, N. Casey, E. Linard, J.R. Dettman, ‘Further Insight into Analyte Transport Processes and Water Vapor, Aerosol Loading in ICP-OES and ICP-MS’, Spectrochim. Acta Part B At. Spectrosc., 176, 106038 (2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.sab.2020.106038
- 37J.S. Becker, R.S. Soman, K.L. Sutton, J.A. Caruso, H.-J. Dietze, ‘Determination of Long-lived Radionuclides by Inductively Coupled Plasma Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry Using Different Nebulizers’, J Anal. At. Spectrom., 14, 933–937 (1999).
- 38S.E. O'Brien, J.R. Chirinos, K. Jorabchi, K. Kahen, M.E. Cree, A. Montaser, ‘Investigation of the Direct Injection High Efficiency Nebulizer for Axially and Radially Viewed Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry’, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 18, 910–916 (2003).
- 39J.L. Todolí, J.M. Mermet, ‘Study of Matrix Effects Using an Adjustable Chamber Volume in a Torch-Integrated Sample Introduction System (TISIS) in ICP-AES’, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 17, 913–924 (2002).
- 40W. Holak, ‘Gas Sampling Techniques for Determination of Arsenic by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry’, Anal. Chem., 41, 1712–1713 (1969).
- 41P. Pohl, ‘Hydride Generation-Recent Advances in Atomic Emission Spectrometry’, TrAC, Trends Anal. Chem., 23(2), 87–100 (2004).
- 42 A.D. Campbell (ed.), ‘A Critical Survey of Hydride Generation Techniques in Atomic Spectrometry -Technical Report’, Pure Appl. Chem., 64(2), 227–244 (1992).
- 43P. Smichowski, S. Farías, S.P. Arisnabarreta, ‘Chemical Vapour Generation of Transition Metal Volatile Species for Analytical Purposes: Determination of Zn by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry’, Analyst, 128, 779–785 (2003).
- 44P. Phol, W. Zyrnicki, ‘Study of the Reaction of Ir, Os, Rh and Ru ions with NaBH4 in the Acid Medium by the Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry’, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 17, 746–749 (2002).
- 45R.K. Anderson, M. Thompson, E. Culbard, ‘Selective Reduction of Arsenic Species by Continuous Hydride Generation. Part I. Reaction Media’, Analyst, 111, 1143–1152 (1986).
- 46K. Abbas-Ghaleb, N. Gilon, G. Crétier, J.M. Mermet, ‘Pre concentration of Selenium Compounds on Porous Graphitic Carbon Column in View of HPLC-ICP-AES Speciation Analysis’, Anal. Bioanal. Chem., 377, 1026–1031 (2003).
- 47C. Bresson, C. Colin, F. Chartier, C. Moulin, ‘Cobalt Speciation Study in the Cobalt-Cysteine System by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry and Anion-exchange Chromatography Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometry’, Appl. Spect., 59(5), 696–705 (2005).
- 48T. Kato, T. Uehiro, A. Yasuhara, M. Morita, ‘Determination of Methylmercury Species by Capillary Column Gas Chromatography with Axially Viewed Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometric Detection’, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 7, 15–18 (1992).
- 49U. Kumtabtim, J. Shiowatana, A. Siripinyanond, ‘Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation-Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry: Size-based Elemental Speciation of Air Particulates’, J. At. Anal. Spectrom., 20, 1185–1190 (2005).
- 50S. Saeseaw, J. Shiowatana, A. Siripinyanond, ‘Observation of Salt-Induced β-Lactoglobulin Aggregation Using Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation’, Anal. Bioanal. Chem., 386(6), 1681–1688 (2006).
- 51A. Seubert, ‘On-line Coupling of Ion Chromatography with ICP-AES and ICP-MS’, 'TrAC, Trends Anal. Chem., 20(6+7), 274–278 (2001).
- 52J.C.A. Wuilloud, R.G. Wuilloud, A.P. Venderheide, J.A. Caruso, ‘Gas Chromatography/Plasma Spectrometry-an Important Analytical Tool for Elemental Speciation Studies’, Spectrochim. Acta, Part B, 59, 755–792 (2004).
- 53E.H. Evans, J.A. Day, C.D. Palmer, C.M.M. Smith, ‘Advances in Atomic Spectrometry and Related Techniques’, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 26, 1115–1141 (2011).
- 54B. Fairman, A. Sanz-Medel, ‘Flow Injection-Mini-Column Technique with ICP-AES Detection for the Isolation and Preconcentration of the Fast Reactive Aluminum Fraction in Waters’, Fresenius' J. Anal. Chem., 355, 757–762 (1996).
- 55B.F. dos Reis, M.F. Giné, F.J. Krug, H.B. Filho, ‘Multipurpose Flow Injection System. Part 1. Programmable Dilutions and Standard Additions for Plant Digests Analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry’, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 7, 865–868 (1992).
- 56A.G. Cox, I.G. Cook, C.W. McLeod, ‘Rapid Sequential Determination of Chromium (III)-Chromium (VI) by Flow Injection Analysis-Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic-Emission Spectrometry’, Analyst, 110, 331–333 (1985).
- 57Y. Israel, A.P. Krushevska, H. Foner, L.J. Martines, R.M. Barnes, ‘Flow Configurations for Interfacing Automatic Ion-Exchange Devices with Sequential Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry: Application to Trace Metal Determination in Pure Alkali Metal Salts’, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 8, 467–474 (1993).
- 58 Horiba, ‘ULTIMA-2 ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer ‘Manufacturer's Literature’, Horiba © 02/2013, Horiba Jobin Yvon Instruments', 2013. www.horiba.com/scientific (accessed 9 October 2015).
- 59M. Krachler, R. Alvarez-Sarandes, P. Souček, P. Carbol, ‘High Resolution ICP-OES Analysis of Neptunium-237 in Samples from Pyrochemical Treatment of Spent Nuclear Fuel’, Microchem. J., 117, 225–232 (2014).
- 60 National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP), United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), ‘Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste: Physical/Chemical Methods’, Vol. 1, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, April 1998. 3rd Edition, Update III-A (also see the US-EPA web site: SW-846 online – https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=50000U6E.txt for current updates (accessed 4 June 2021)).
- 61 E.W. Rice, R.B. Baird, A.D. Eaton (eds.), Part 3000, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 23rd edition, American Public Health Association, Washington, DC, 2017.
- 62 EPA/600/4-79-020, Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes, USEPA, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC, 1983.
- 63 EPA/600/R-94/111, ‘Method 200.2 Sample Preparation Procedure for Spectrochemical Determination of Total Recoverable Elements in Water and Wastes by Inductively Coupled Plasma/Atomic Emission Spectrometry’, Revision 2.8, EMMC Version, in Methods for the Determination of Metals in Environmental Samples — Supplement I. USEPA Office of Research and Development, May, 1994.
- 64‘USEPA Contract Laboratory Program Statement of Work for Inorganic Analysis’, Document No. ILM04.0, EPA-540/R-95/121, US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Exhibit D, Sec. III, p. D-5, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1995.
- 65 US EPA, EPA/600/R-94/111, ‘Method 200.7: Determination of Metals and Trace Elements in Water and Wastes by Inductively Coupled Plasma/Atomic Emission Spectrometry, revision 4.4 in Methods for the Determination of Metals in Environmental Samples-Supplement I’. USEPA Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH, May, 1994. https://www.epa.gov/esam/method-2007-determination-metals-and-trace-elements-water-and-wastes-inductively-coupled-plasma.
- 66 EPA/600/R-94/111, ‘Method 200.15 Determination of Metals and Trace Elements in Water by Ultrasonic Nebulization Inductively Coupled Plasma/Atomic Emission Spectrometry, Revision 1.2 in Methods for the Determination of Metals in Environmental Samples — Supplement I’. USEPA Office of Research and Development, May, 1994.
- 67B. Spence, K. Harper, J. Wills, F. Keenan, ‘ICP Source Spectrometry Techniques in Regulated Water Analysis, Applications of ICP and ICP-MS Techniques for Today's Spectroscopists,’ Supplement to Spectroscopy, Spectroscopy, 8–23, October, (2007).
Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry: Applications, Theory and Instrumentation
Browse other articles of this reference work:
