Correction of matrix effects in inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry by interactive power adjustment

Abstract

An important class of matrix effect in inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry is apparently caused by matrix-induced changes in excitation conditions in the plasma, as spectral lines are affected to an extent that depends on their excitation potentials. A change in the r.f. power supplied to the plasma produces a similar effect. This similarity has been used to compensate for matrix effects by means of an automatic increase in forward power. Excitation conditions were monitored by the sensitivity of a reference line. Matrix effects on most of the lines studied were reduced to a small level by the method, which is termed “interactive power adjustment.”