Optimisation and assessment of an innovative high sensitivity 90-degree reflecting ICP-MS ion optics system for the validation of simultaneous determination of arsenic and selenium in water matrices

Abstract

A routine ICP-MS method for the determination of As and Se in fresh and sewage water has been developed. After a first phase of optimisation, where the torch alignment, flow of gases and ion optic adjustments were calibrated, the method was validated successfully. The parameters limits of detection, linearity, working range, sensitivity and the interferences, precision and accuracy were studied with three procedures for the method: measuring two SRMs (BCR-714 of influent wastewater and NIST 1643e of groundwater); spiking four different matrices at three levels of concentration; and doing a proficiency test. The limits of detection obtained were 0.2 and 0.8 µg L−1 for As and Se, respectively. The percentages of linearity obtained were 99.2% for As and 99.8% for Se. All recovery values were according to the AOAC intervals, from 95.3% for As in the wastewater matrix to 106.4% for Se in the seawater matrix. The accuracy was also studied determined via a proficiency testing resulting in acceptable Z-scores of 0.65 and 0.4 respectively for As and Se. The complete method allowed analysis of water samples according to European Directive 2000/60 EC and the different guides for method validation.