Trace element analysis of iron meteorite by ICP-MS

What is it about?

This paper reports an external-standard-calibration method to measure trace elements of extraterrestrial metals via high accuracy analyses by ICP–MS. Multi-standard solutions were in different concentration of trace elements, and in different matrix condition. The measurements reveal significant deviations between the standard solutions with different contents of matrix Fe and Ni. Also there are apparent discrepancies among the results of iron meteorite solutions determined with different calibration curves that were achieved from the external standard solutions of three matrix types, respectively. The largest deviation could be up to 75% between the values calibrated by the external standards with and without a matrix. However, the values will be identical in the error range when the calibration curves made by the external standards with matrix have the concentration of Fe and Ni is higher than 250 ppm and 20 ppm, respectively. Our experiments have clearly demonstrated that the external standard solutions should match the contents of the matrix Fe and Ni and cover the ranges of trace elements in the iron meteorite samples.

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Why is it important?

An accurate ICP-MS analysis method for extraterrestrial metal samples has been established using the external standard solutions with matched matrix contents and digesting the aliquot samples with HNO3 and aqua regia.

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