A comparison of SEM-EDS with ICP-OES for the Quantitative Elemental Determination of Algerian Mediterranean Sea Sediments

The aim of this work is to compare analytical results obtained by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy “ICP-OES” and a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEMEDS). Surface sediment samples used in this study were collected from the Algerian Mediterranean coasts. For ICP-OES analysis the collected sediments have been subjected to a total acid digestion. In this study, we found that there is a good correlation between the results obtained by ICP-OES and those obtained by SEM-EDS. Moreover, good correlation was found for each sample between SEM-EDS and ICP-OES results. Most sample-sample correlations were very high which indicates that the results of SEM-EDS and ICP-OES are almost comparable. In order to estimate and compare the relative order (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Na, Ni, Sr, and Zn) of metal concentrations in the samples analyzed, correlation coefficients between samples with respect to that order were calculated for ICP results and SEM results, the correlation coefficients were all positive, very high, and equal unity in the case of ICP results. This suggests that no significant anthropogenic impacts in term of pollution can be considered between our samples. Correlation coefficients between samples with respect to that order for SEM results range from 0.18 – 1.00. This suggests that although there is a difference in the results of the two techniques, however the results of the two techniques are almost comparable.