Optimization and Validation of a Method for Heavy Metals Quantification in Soil Samples by Inductively Coupled Plasma Sector Field Mass Spectrometry (ICP-SFMS)

Abstract

In this work, a method for quantification of heavy metals Inductively Coupled Plasma Sector Field Mass Spectrometry (ICP-SFMS) in soil samples of El Bierzo district (Spain) has been optimized and validated. Optimization was carried out for elements: Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, As, Cd, Hg, Pb and U. Validation of the method was performed with Certified and Standard Reference Materials (CRMs and SRMs); SRM2709, CRM020-051 and CRM050-051. Results obtained under optimized conditions can be summarized as follows: a) the Limits of Detection (LODs) were in the order of sub fg·g -1 for Cr, Mn, Cu, Co, As, Cd, Hg, Pb and U, and few fg·g -1 for Ni, Zn and Se; b) precision measurement, in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD), was been below 5%; c) the average recovery of CRM was between 81.3% and 98%. In conclusion, the method offers several advantages: fast, good accuracy, very low values of Limits of Quantification (LOQs) and high sensitivity on measurement of heavy metal.