Spectral interferences in the determination of rhenium in molybdenum and copper concentrates by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES)

•Spectral interferences in the presence of Mo, Al, Ti, Fe, Mg, Ca and Cu were studied and quantified.•Comparative data for axial 27.12 MHz ICP's were shown.•40.68 MHz ICP with high resolution was applied in the determination of Re.•Sintering with MgO and NaNO3 as well as microwave acid digestion was used.

This paper deals with spectral interferences of complex matrix containing Mo, Al, Ti, Fe, Mg, Ca and Cu in the determination of rhenium in molybdenum and copper concentrates by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). By radial viewing 40.68 MHz ICP equipped with a high resolution spectrometer (spectral bandwidth = 5 pm) the hyperfine structure (HFS) of the most prominent lines of rhenium (Re II 197.248 nm, Re II 221.426 nm and Re II 227.525 nm) was registered. The HFS components under high resolution conditions were used as separate prominent line in order to circumvent spectral interferences. The Q-concept was applied for quantification of spectral interferences.The quantitative databases for the type and the magnitude of the spectral interferences in the presence of above mentioned matrix constituents were obtained by using a radial viewing 40.68 MHz ICP with high resolution and an axial viewing 27.12 MHz ICP with middle resolution. The data for the both ICP-OES systems were collected chiefly with a view to spectrochemical analysis for comparing the magnitude of line and wing (background) spectral interference and the true detection limits with spectroscopic apparatus with different spectral resolution.The sample pretreatment methods by sintering with magnesium oxide and oxidizing agents as well as a microwave acid digestion were applied.The feasibility, accuracy and precision of the analytical results were experimentally demonstrated by certified reference materials.