Optimisation of ICP-MS collision/reaction cell conditions for the determination of elements likely to be interfered (V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, As and Se) in foodstuffs

A strategy for the accurate determination in foodstuffs of seven elements liable to be interfered with (V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, As and Se), was successfully applied. Firstly, to reduce spectroscopic interferences, four influential factors (hexapole and quadrupole bias, helium and hydrogen flows) of the collision/reaction cell device were optimised through the experimental design methodology. Secondly, non-spectroscopic interferences, which may severely disturb the analysis of matrices containing large amounts of non-target elements, were significantly reduced by a limited decrease in the flow rate of the optimum initial nebuliser rather than with a specific time-consuming dilution. Finally, the optimised multi-element method was subjected to a full validation that demonstrated its acceptable analytical performance.