Rapid Determination of REEs, PGEs, and Other Trace Elements in Geological and Environmental Materials by High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

摘要

Methodologies were designed and developed using magnetic sector high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS) for the fast, reliable, and accurate determination of different sets of geochemically significant trace elements (at sub-ng/g to μg/g levels) including rare earth elements (REEs) and platinum group elements (PGEs) in a variety of geological materials for their application in advanced geochemical studies. In the case of trace elements (including REE) in rock, mineral, soil, and sediment samples, about 50 mg each of the samples was dissolved in Savillex? pressure decomposition vessels by utilizing a mix of hydrofluoric-nitric-perchloric acids. Procedural blanks were prepared in a similar way. Trace elements were determined in water samples directly after filtration, acidification, and appropriate dilution with ~(129)Xe and ~(132)Xe as the internal standards. NiS fire assay and Te co-precipitation methods were used for the separation and pre-concentration of the PGEs and Au from the rock matrix (~ 10 g properly homogenized samples) before their determination by HR-ICP-MS.