Factor analysis used to peak position optimization and spectral interference correction in inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Target transformation factor analysis was used to correct spectral interfer ence in inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-BES) f or the determination of rare earth impurities in high purity thulium oxide. Data matrix was constructed with pure and mixture vectors and background v ector. A method based on an error evaluation function was proposed to optim ize the peak position, so the influence of the peak position shift in spect ral scans on the determination was eliminated or reduced. Satisfactory resu lts were obtained using factor analysis and the proposed peak position opti mization method.