Summary of a Calibration Method for the Deteremination of Volatile Metal(loid) Compounds in Environmental Gas Samples by Using Gas Chromatography–Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A calibration method was developed which allows a semi-quantitative determination of volatile heavy element species in environmental gas samples by using GC–ICP-MS. This method uses an aqueous element solution for the quantification of the volatile element species, as useful gaseous standards are not available. Rhodium was used as a continuous internal standard and was introduced into the plasma simultaneously with the gas sample during the entire analysis time. The method was evaluated by using different amounts of arsine (AsH ₃ ) with mass flows in the ng s ^-1 range. The recovery of AsH ₃ ranged from 81 to 105%. The detection limits for the elements measured (Ge, As, Se, Cd, Sn, Sb, Te, I, Hg, Pb, and Bi) were below 1 pg l ^-1 .