Characterization of automotive catalysts using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: sample preparation

Abstract

Several methods utilizing microwave energy induced dissolution were developed for rapid digestion and subsequent analysis of automotive catalyst material by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Dissolution was accomplished within 2–3 h rather than days as with the widely accepted ashing methods. A comparison was made with several other ICP-MS techniques and the conventional wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence method.