Factors Influencing the Quantitative Determination of Trace Elements in Soils by Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry

The influence of oxygen content, conducting host matrix, and soil composition on the quantitative determination of trace elements in soils by glow discharge mass spectrometry was examined. Oxygen content and conducting host matrix identity influenced relative sensitivity factors employed in the quantitative interpretation of the glow discharge mass spectra. Soil composition did not influence these relative sensitivity factors. Unknown soils taken from the field were analyzed with the use of a set of relative sensitivity factors obtained from standard soils with certified compositions. The quantitative results from glow discharge mass spectrometry of these unknowns compared favorably with quantitative results from inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and laser ablation solid sampling inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.