Accurate Determination of Harmful and Doping Elements in Soft Magnetic Ferrite Powders Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Abstract A novel strategy was proposed and developed for eliminating spectral interference in the analysis of soft magnetic ferrite powders by inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) in the MS/MS mode using mixed reaction gases. The samples were digested in a microwave-based digestion system using a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. The contents of harmful elements (Na and Mg) and doping elements (Al, K, Ti and Co) in the digestion solution were determined by ICP-MS/MS. For spectral interferences in the complex matrix composition of different soft magnetic ferrite powders, in the MS/MS mode, the interferences were eliminated using mixed reaction gases of NH3/He/H2 through mass shift and on-mass methods. The limits of detection for Na, Mg, Al, K, Ti and Co were 16.6, 3.08, 5.40, 11.3, 0.64 and 0.53 ng L–1, respectively. The developed method was evaluated by sector field ICP-MS (SF-ICP-MS), and no significant difference was observed between the two analytical methods at a 95% confidence level, indicating that the developed method was accurate and reliable. This method was demonstrated as simple and quick and could be used for interference-free determination of Na, Mg, Al, K, Ti and Co in soft magnetic ferrite powders, providing a new technical means for the quality control of harmful and doping elements in soft magnetic ferrite powders.