Trace Element Analysis in Gasification Plant Samples by ICP-MS: A Comparison of Digestion Methods from Two Laboratories

摘要

Three sample digestion methods have been used as the preparative step prior to analyses by ICP-MS: peroxide fusion (peroxide + carbonate) and microwave digestion by Harwell and wet ashing ('open' acid digestion) and microwave digestion by Imperial College (IC). As one part of the study was aimed at analysing samples from laboratory scale coal gasification equipment, digestions at IC were carried out using a range of sample sizes, at times as small as 10 mg. Since all three digestion techniques appeared to give rise to loss of mercury, a Leco atomic absorption spectrophotometer based method has been used to determine mercury contents.