Microwave plasma torch-atomic emission spectrometry for the on-line determination of rare earth elements based on flow injection preconcentration by TiO2–graphene composite

In this work, we synthesized TiO2–graphene composite as a novel preconcentration material. It was enclosed in a microcolumn in the on-line flow injection system to adsorb trace light (La), medium (Tb), and heavy (Ho) rare earth elements (REEs) prior to their determinations by microwave plasma torch-atomic emission spectrometry (MPT-AES). Various experimental parameters, such as sample loading time, sample flow rate, sample pH, eluent flow rate, eluent concentration, and interfering ions, were investigated systematically. Under the optimum conditions, the detection limits (three times of standard deviations of blank by 7 reiterations) of La, Tb, and Ho were found to be 2.2, 1.6, and 2.8 μg L−1, with enrichment factors of 17.1, 11.1, and 10.2, respectively. Relative standard deviations for the determination of the target REEs were 3.6%, 1.3%, and 1.4%, respectively (n = 7). The developed method was validated by the analysis of La, Tb, and Ho in certified reference material (GBW07313, marine sediment) and high purity REE oxide samples.