Full uncertainty calculation on quantitative determination of tracer (111Cd) cadmium and natural cadmium in soil column effluents with ICP-MS

Contaminant and tracer cadmium-111 isotope were simultaneously determined in soil column effluents by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using an adaptation of the isotope dilution equation. An overview of the uncertainty sources is given. The combined uncertainty on the ICP-MS results was...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of analytical atomic spectrometry 1999, Vol.14 (9), p.1475-1484
Main Authors: TIREZ, K, SEUNTJENS, P, DE BRUCKER, N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis methods
Analytical chemistry
Applied sciences
Chemistry
Exact sciences and technology
Pollution
Soil and sediments pollution
Spectrometric and optical methods
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Summary:Contaminant and tracer cadmium-111 isotope were simultaneously determined in soil column effluents by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using an adaptation of the isotope dilution equation. An overview of the uncertainty sources is given. The combined uncertainty on the ICP-MS results was quantified using a commercially available software program (GUM Workbench). The computations of this program follow the rules of the ISO guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement . At low cadmium concentrations (less than 0.2 mg per ml), the major source of uncertainty was due to counting statistics. At higher concentrations, the signal instability, due in part to clogging of the sampling cone by calcium salts present in the leachant, was the largest contributor to the total uncertainty. The expanded uncertainty for cadmium concentrations above 0.5 ng per ml was plus minus 4 per cent (coverage factor 2, confidence intervals 95 per cent).
ISSN:0267-9477
1364-5544
DOI:10.1039/a901629e