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SINGLE-LABORATORY EVALUATION OF OSMIUM ANALYTICAL METHODS
Citation:
Jones, C., D. Darby, G. Marrs-Smith, V. Hodge, AND W. Ellis. SINGLE-LABORATORY EVALUATION OF OSMIUM ANALYTICAL METHODS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/4-89/021 (NTIS PB89224893), 1989.
Description:
The results of a single-laboratory study of osmium analytical methods are described. The methods studied include direct-aspiration atomic absorption spectroscopy (EPA Method 7550), furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy using (a) direct nebulization (heated and unheated) (b) continuous nebulization and (c) volatilization (batch and heated continuous). Also presented are the results of several methods of sample preparation. The stability of osmium concentrations in digests over a three-week period are also presented. Method performance data including detection limits, optium concentration ranges (linearity), spike recoveries, interferences, precision, accuracy, and recommended operating parameters are presented and discussed. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) with direct nebulization offers an instrumental detection limit that is 1000-fold lower than the 0.3-mg/L value obtained for AAS Method 7550. The minimum instrumental detection limit achieved (0.03 ug/L for 1 mL) was obtained by batch volatilization of osmium concentrations above 1 mg/L, conventional ICP-AES for osmium concentrations above 1 ug/L, and batch-volatilization ICP-AES for osmium concentrations below 1 ug/L.