Abstract

Inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS) was used for the simultaneous determination of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Cd, Sn and Pb in a candidate reference material (Antarctic Krill). Samples were collected and treated in the framework of the Italian National Program for Research in Antarctica. The entire analytical procedure is described, including sample digestion and handling, instrumental analysis and data evaluation. Due to the presence of molecular ions of the same nominal masses as the analyte nuclides, the instrument was used at high resolution settings (m/Δm ≈ 3200) for most of the elements. Average concentrations (in µg g⁻¹, dry weight) found in the samples and relative standard deviation (% in brackets) were: V 1.21 (2), Cr 0.51 (6), Mn 4.06 (4), Fe 56.2 (10), Co 0.068 (7), Ni 1.30 (4), Cu 70.6 (0.7), Zn 63 (5), Se 7.8 (6), Cd 0.71 (11), Sn 0.21 (14) and Pb 1.16 (7). For most of the elements the results obtained by ICP-SFMS are in good agreement with those measured with other techniques and used in the certification process.