Application of tandem calibration for the direct analysis of copper by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES)

A procedure has been proposed for the direct ICP-AES analysis of solid copper samples using spark sampling. Calibration curves have been obtained using multi-element reference solutions of analytes (MES). The internal standards are spectral lines of copper with the energy parameters (excitation and ionization potentials) similar to those of analytes. Standard Reference Material (SRM) of copper have been used for the estimation of performance characteristics. The absence of significant differences between the found and certified concentrations of analytes has been shown. The developed procedure of ICP-AES analysis of solid copper samples with spark sampling and calibration using MES provides the determination of up to 14 elements: Ag, As, Au, Cd, Fe, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, Pt, Sb, Se, Sn, Te, and Zn in the concentration range from n x 10(-3) to n x 10(-1) wt %.