Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026

Clean Sampling and Analysis of River and Estuarine Waters for Trace Metal Studies
Published on: July 1, 2016
Improvements to standard methodologies for the analytical determination of metals in stationary-source emissions
Richard J C Brown1, Sharon L Goddard, Kevin C Blakley
1Analytical Science Division, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex, United Kingdom. richard.brown@npl.co.uk
Abstract:
Deficiencies with the current European reference method for the analysis using inductively couple plasma-mass spectrometry of metals in samples from stationary emissions sources are presented based on experimental data obtained from real samples. The effect of these deficiencies on the quality and accuracy of data is highlighted with biases of up to 40% being observed in real samples. Suggestions to improve the performance of the standard method are presented. In particular, the beneficial effect of using a drift correction procedure to account for the decrease in instrument sensitivity observed during an analytical measurement series is demonstrated. It is shown that this corrective procedure results in substantial improvements to the accuracy of data produced.
Related Concept Videos
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Lab
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Lab
Solutions containing organic solvents, such as low-molecular-mass alcohols, esters, or ketones, enhance absorbances by increasing nebulizer...
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Overview
Sampling Methods: Sample Types
Solid samples include a variety of substances, such as sediments from water bodies, soil, metals, and biological tissues. Two standard methods for extracting sediments from water bodies are grab sampling and piston coring. Grab sampling involves using a device to collect a discrete sediment sample from the bottom of a water body with minimal disturbance. Grab samples do not always represent the entire area due to...
Sample Preparation for Analysis: Overview
Bulk or large solid samples are typically reduced in size using grinding, crushing, or milling techniques to increase the...
Voltammetry: Stripping Methods
Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV)
ASV is used to determine metals and metalloids at trace levels. It involves two steps: deposition and stripping. First, a negative potential is applied to the...

