Abstract

The combined matrix effects produced by the simultaneous presence of C and Mg were investigated. The description was performed using a 2² factorial design. For B, Ba, Co, Fe, Mn, Si and Sr, the total effect is the same as the sum of the individuals, the rest of the analytes exhibited a combined effect that is smaller (Cu, Cd and Ni) or bigger (Cr) than the sum of the single ones. A multiple linear regression was employed to correct for matrix effects. The effectiveness of the method was also tested in experimental conditions when the variation of analyte line intensities is the result of the superposition, in different degrees, of spectral interferences and matrix effects. Average deviations from the expected values in the range of 61–6% were reduced to 4.8–0.5% after the application of the correction method.