Determination of metal ions in single wood fiber by LA-ICP-MS

Abstract

Abstract Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used to determine the distribution of metal elements in single wood fiber of kraft pulp. Calibration procedures for quantitative analysis of metals in single fibers (SFs) by LA-ICP-MS technique were also developed. Calibration curves were constructed by using matrix-matched standards prepared from (a) cellulose powder washed with 0.05 M EDTA, (b) unbleached softwood pulp washed with 0.05 M EDTA and nitric acid. Calibration materials were prepared by doping the washed cellulose powder and the washed unbleached softwood pulp with standard solutions with increasing concentrations of the elements of interest (Co, Mg, Cu, Na, K, Mn, Zn, Ni, Ca, and Fe). Quantitative determination of the metals in single wood fiber was based on the calibration curves resulting from both the doped cellulose pellets and the doped SFs. The determination of the absolute concentration of elements in a single wood fiber by LA-ICP-MS is still difficult, but in this study, it was demonstrated that the information about the metal distribution can be obtained easily, and their semiquantitative determination is possible.