QUANTITATIVE LINE SELECTION WITH THE KALMAN FILTER APPROACH FOR INDUCTIVELY-COUPLED PLASMA-ATOMIC EMISSION-SPECTROMETRY

With the Kalman filter approach, the true detection limit (i.e. the detection limit in the sample solution) only depends on the height of the total background signal, and is not determined by the uncertainties in interfering background signals. Based on the background equivalent interferent concentration, the true detection limit can be directly estimated in sample solutions containing various amounts of interferent. This eases the application of the true detection limit as quantitative criterion for line selection. Following this approach, quantitative line selection is demonstrated for Pb and Cd determinations in river sediments (Fe interferences).