Influence of small amounts of organic solvents in aqueous samples on argon inductively coupled plasma spectrometry.

The presence of organic solvents in aqueous samples in concentrations as low as 0.1% by volume had a large effect on emission and fluorescence signals. Both atom and ion emission signals were depressed when organic solvents were present. In contrast, Sr II fluorescence intensities were enhanced by up to a factor of 3.5 when the sample contained 2% (v/v) organic solvent. More ions were produced when the sample contained organic solvent. However, the fractions of atoms and ions that were excited and emitted light decreased. Ar and H emission intensities can be used as diagnostic signals to warn the operator when plasma conditions have changed due to the presence of organic solvents.