Determination of Elements in Viscous Organic Liquids by Arc Atomic Emission Spectrometry

Direct analysis of viscous organic liquids (medical and industrial adhesives, polymeric flocculant) by arc atomic emission spectrometry using aqueous standard solutions for constructing calibration dependences is shown to be impossible due to a matrix effect. This limitation is eliminated when the samples are diluted by at least an order of magnitude, which leads to an increase in the detection limits. A simplified scheme of acid mineralization of samples directly on the electrode (50 mu L of HNO3 per 10 mu L of sample) is proposed. The absence of a matrix effect is confirmed by calculation of the plasma parameters and comparison with results obtained after traditional acid decomposition. The proposed method can produce in a short time information on the content of a set of elements (Ag, Al, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, P. Pb, Ti, V, Zn) from hundredths of a mg/kg in viscous organic liquids.