Radio frequency glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (rf-GD-OES) analysis of solid glass samples

The analytical characteristics of rf-GD-OES for the elemental analysis of b ulk solid glass specimens are investigated. Studies are carried out to eval uate the role of the major operating parameters-discharge power and pressur e, use of an external argon (bath) gas, sample thickness, and internal stan dard normalization. Plasma stabilization and signal response are optimized at 30 W rf power and 6 Torr as suggested by the relative standard deviation of the background (RSDB) and signal to background ratio (S/B) values respe ctively. Basic figures of merit are further improved with the introduction of the argon (bath) gas, decreasing by a minimum of 25% of the original %RS D values of the sample-to-sample S/B ratios. Variations in analyte signal i ntensities due to differences in sample thickness are quantitatively correc ted using internal standard (normalization) based on the relative response of the Ar(I) optical emission. Limits of detection (LOD) are on the single mug g(-1) level, which are comparable to some other OES methods. Linear cal ibration curves over the range of similar to1-500 ppm are obtained using th e Ar(I) signal emission as the normalizing internal standard.