Utilisation of emission in the ultraviolet region for the determination of phosphate in geochemical samples by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

Abstract

The analytical suitability of several phosphorus emission lines in the ultraviolet region for the measurement of phosphate in geological materials by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry has been examined. The 178.29-nm line was found to be the most sensitive, not subject to unacceptable spectral line interferences and less affected by shifts in spectral background caused by high aluminium concentrations than the commonly used 213.62-and 214.91-nm lines. A detection limit of 0.07 mg l^–1 of phosphorus was obtained and good agreement was demonstrated between measured and certified phosphate values for standard rocks.