Spectral interference in the determination of Ho, Tm and Ga as dopants in single crystals of potassium titanylphosphate by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

The present article discusses the spectral interferences affecting the determination of Ga, Ho and Tm as dopants in single crystals of potassium titanylphosphate (KTiOPO4) by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The Q concept, as proposed by Boumans and Vrakking [Spectrochim. Acta Part B 43 (1988) 69] was used for this study, which covers: (a) spectral data for potassium, titanium and phosphorous as interferents (at a concentration of 4 mg/ml) in 400 pm wide spectral windows around the prominent lines of the analytes; (b) a database of Q values for line interferences (QI) and for wing interferences (QW); and (c) the interelement interferences in doubly doped crystals of KTP.