Elemental analysis of Spanish moss using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry Original Research Article

NIST archival leaf standards are used as matrix matched standards for reliable quantitative elemental analysis of Spanish moss samples by LA (laser ablation)–ICP (inductively coupled plasma)–MS (mass spectrometry). Mixed standards are used to produce at least three data points for each calibration curve. The results obtained are compared to that obtained from microwave digestion ICP–MS/AES. For most of the elements studied, the results for the two methods agreed. Iron (Fe) is exceptional in that a discrepancy of ca. 10-fold in results occurred using the two methods. This is believed to have been caused by an interference of ArOH+ at mass 57. Standard addition was also studied and results showed that it is an effective method when matrix-matched standards are not available.