Polyatomic Interferences Produced by Macroelements During Direct Multi‐Elemental ICP‐MS Hydrochemical Analysis

Abstract

An experimental study of the interferences produced by macroelements (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Sr, S, Cl, Si, N and C) contained in natural waters during inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) is presented. The most significant interferences created by these elements were found to be SO, CO, CAr, SiH, SiO, NaH, NaAr, MgAr, CaO, KO and KAr, the magnitude of which was dependant on the concentration of each macroelement. To reduce these interferences, different approaches, for example, desolvating nebulisation, high resolution and dynamic reaction cell ICP‐MS were applied and compared. All three approaches were found to be useful tools for significantly reducing various polyatomic interferences. Advantages and disadvantages for each approach are discussed.