MATRIX EFFECTS IN ARGON PLASMA ON ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL GLAZES BY INDUCTIVELY-COUPLED PLASMA-ATOMIC EMISSION-SPECTROMETRY

The elemental composition of historical glazes was determined with use of a sequential PU 7000 (Unicam Analytical Systems) inductively coupl ed plasma atomic emission spectrometer. The lead emission line at 280. 199 nm was used to find the optimum viewing position in the plasma for the determination of Si, Ph, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn and Zn. The boron emission line at 249.678 nm was used for the determination of B. The matrix effects of easily ionizable elements such as Li and Na were stu died. The influence of a matrix of Fe, Si, Ph, Al, Ca, Mn and Cu in th e determination of B was also studied. The samples were fused with Li2 B4O7 and for the determination of B, samples were melted with sodium c arbonate. The US Geological Survey reference materials GXR-2 and GXR-3 were used to test the method. The detection limits for ten elements a nd the precision of the method were evaluated.