MULTIELEMENTAL SEMIQUANTITATIVE ANALYSES OF SUSPENDED PARTICULATE MATTER BY GLOW-DISCHARGE MS

We report the possibilities for multi-elemental analysis of suspended particulate matter (SPM) by glow discharge mass spectrometry (GDMS). T o cope with the small sample volume, SPM sample was deposited on the s urface of a high purity (7N grade) indium electrode. NIST SRM 1648 Urb an Particulate Matter was analyzed to evaluate the method. For 34 elem ents, GDMS results agreed well with their reference values within a fa ctor of 2 from the major constituents (12.5 wt% of Si) to the trace co nstituents (down to 0.8 mu g/g of Eu), even when using typical relativ e sensitivity factors (RSF). A total of 53 elements including halogens were analyzed using approximately 10 mg of SPM sample by GDMS with su b-mu g/g sensitivity.