The detection of Rare Earth Elements (REE) by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) has long been problematic.  Also, in many analytical situations, the REE are in solid materials that have to be fused with sodium peroxide or lithium metaborate to solubilize them Beryllium was chosen as an internal standard due to its strong emission lines.  Furthermore, it is usually in low abundance in REE matrices and does not produce interfering lines.  The complex overlapping emission wavelengths of the REE required extensive spectral corrections to accurately analyze the samples.  Once the spectral corrections were in place the detection limit of REE was below .5 ppm and limit of quantification was at or below 2ppm for all elements.  REE ICP-AES analysis was found to give accurate results, even in solutions with large concentrations of fusion salts, therefore it is useful for analyzing REE in a complex matrix.

Analysis of rare earth elements in a sodium peroxide fusion matrix using ICP-AES

242nd National Meeting (2011)

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