Correction limit of muliticomponent spectral fitting for determination of trace rare earth impurities in La,Ce,Yb matrix by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

The spectral interference on the rare earth impurities caused by La,Ce and Yb matrix were investigated.Within the spectrum windows of RE impurities,the total number of interfering lines generated by La,Ce and Yb were less than that had ever been reported,and some spectrum lines not yet reported were observed when the concentration of those matrices increased.The multicomponent spectral fitting(MSF) could effectively corrected the spectral interference,so the detection limits of the rare earth impurities were improved significantly after the correction,but the detection limits did not yet reach the level in the absence of La,Ce and Yb.The permissible mass concentration of matrix wass 1 000~2 000 μg/mL when the impurity concentration was 0.100 μg/mL.The concentrations were accordingly decreased with the decreasing impurities concentration.During the process for the establishment of MSF model,the impurity concentration should be 100 times of its detection limit,the matrix concentration should be close to its concentration in the sample.Data collections for the MSF model and sample should be carried out in a same experiment under the same experimental conditions.