Direct REE determination in fresh waters using ultrasonic nebulization ICP-MS

Fifteen samples of fresh spring water from northern Israel were analyzed for extremely low REE concentrations. The concentration of LREE was between 0.02 and 13 ng l –1 and that of HREE was between 0.01 and 3 ng l –1 . The limit of detection was between 0.005 and 0.05 ng l –1 depending on the element. The efficiency of ultrasonic nebulization (USN) is dependent on the total dissolved solids in the samples and therefore the depression of the signal varies from sample to sample as a function of their chemical composition. This problem was solved by using rhenium as an internal standard. The recoveries (between 85 and 120%) found for the determination of REE in spiked natural samples together with the good agreement with known data for SRM SLRS-3 riverine water indicated the accuracy of the direct determination using the developed USN-ICP-MS procedure.

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