Qualitative and quantitative determination of tetraethyllead in fuel using low pressure ICP-MS

Abstract

A low pressure inductively coupled plasma sustained at 6 W, with 7 ml min ^–1 of helium and 1.8 ml min ^–1 of isobutane, has been optimised for the determination of tetraethyllead, with a detection limit of 7 pg. A chromatogram of a standard reference fuel (NBS SRM 1637 II) yielded a single peak which was nominally identified as tetraethyllead. The mass spectrum was compared to an electron impact library spectrum, and the identity of the tetraethyllead species in the reference material was confirmed. Quantitative analysis of the fuel yielded a tetraethyllead concentration of 13.1±0.9 µg ml ^–1 as Pb, which was within the certified range of 12.9±0.07 µg ml ^–1 .