Determination of rare earth elements in rock samples by inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry after sorption preconcentration using Pol-DETATA sorbent

Sorption preconcentration of rare earth elements prior to introduction in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is developed. For the first time Pol-DETATA sorbent was used for REEs preconcentration after digestion of wide classes of rock samples. The developed technique is based on lithium metaborate fusion, preconcentration on Pol-DETATA sorbent, elution with nitric acid and flow-injection sample introduction to the ICP-MS spectrometer. The efficiency of REEs extraction from the resulting solutions in the presence of high amounts of iron is examined. 5-sulfosalicylic acid was used as a masking reagent. Flow-injection introduction of 50 μL of eluate obtained after desorption was used to avoid corrosion of the parts of the ICP-MS instrument due to high acidity of the eluate. The accuracy of the developed technique is checked by the analysis of the certified reference materials of rock samples. The REEs recoveries within 85–100% interval were attained for most REEs in tested reference materials.

► Technique for REEs determination in magmatic rocks using ICP-MS is developed.
► Pol-DETATA sorbent was used for sorption of REEs from solutions after digestion.
► Masking reagent was used to improve the efficiency of sorption.
► 50 μL of eluate was introduced into ICP-MS in flow-injection mode.
► Accuracy of the developed technique is proven by the analysis of the CRMs.