Relative sensitivity coefficients of elements in spark source MS using several metal probes

Abstract

Relative sensitivity coefficients (RSC) (Fe = 1) of elements in steel, copper and aluminum standard samples when gold, platinum, silver, tantalum, tungsten and aluminum probes were used as counter electrodes were studied. The metal probe used was about 0.5 mm in diameter and the elements measured were B, Si, P, Ti, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, As, Nb, Mo, Sn, Ta, W and Pb. The difference in the RSC values amoung the metal probes was found not to exist except for the elements of Ti, Si and Sn, and the RSC values obtained by the metal probe methods tend to be in good agreement with those obtained by the conventional method using the solid sample electrodes (the solid method). The precision of these methods except for the aluminum probe method was from 5 to 13% better than that of the solid method. However, these probe methods had the same matrix effects as the solid method. The precision for Si and Ti in steels was poor due to inhomogeneity of samples and also the poor precision of aluminum probe method seemed to be due to the instability of the spark caused by vigorous consumption of aluminum. © 1986, The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry. All rights reserved.