Matrix Effects and Behaviors of Elements in Oxalic Acid Medium by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

The influence of different concentration of oxalic acid matrix on elemental inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been investigated. It has been proved that the sensitivity of analytes can be significantly enhanced by adding small amounts of oxalic acid medium with adjusted nebulizer flow-rate gas, especially for the elements with ionization potential between 9 and 11 eV. Oxalic acid, as an enhancement agent, can be used to compensate the signal depression caused by inorganic matrix and to improve the detection limits about two to eight times, for the hard-to-ionize elements in ICP-MS determination.