An Inductive-Coupled Plasma Atomic-Emission Spectrometric Method for Routine Water Quality Testing

Abstract

Induction-coupled plasma atomic-emission spectrometry offers an ideal method for simultaneous multielement analysis of natural water samples. The Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey currently employs this technique for quantitative analysis of 17 major and trace constituents. These include analysis of Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Li, Mn, Sr, Mo, V, Zn, Ca, Mg, Na, and SiO₂ in a routine production mode, in which an excess of 1000 determinations can be made in a normal working day. Comparability studies with conventional single-element methods of analysis, such as atomic absorption spectrometry and colorimetric techniques, show essentially equivalent accuracy and precision, frequently at much higher sensitivity.