Analysis of Plant Leaves Using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry: Use of Carbon to Compensate for Matrix Effects

Abstract

Direct solid sampling by laser ablation into an inductively coupled plasma synchronous vertical dual view optical emission spectroscope (LA-SVDV-ICP-OES) was used for the elemental analysis of nutrient elements Ca, B, Mn, Mg, K, and Zn and essential (non-metallic) elements P and S in plant materials. The samples were mixed with paraffin as a binder, an approach that provides better cohesion of the particles in the pellets in addition to supplying carbon to serve as an internal standard (atomic line C I 193.027 nm) as a way to compensate for matrix effects, and/or variations in the ablation process. Precision was in the range of 1–8% relative standard deviation (RSD) with limit of detection in the range of 0.4–1 mg/kg–1 and 25–640 mg/kg–1 for metallic and non-metallic elements, respectively.