Samples Containing Rare Earth Elements

ICP Measurement

The RE elements have very complex emission spectra and are difficult to measure in the presence of one another using ICP-OES. For this reason, ICP-MS is the measurement technique of choice by many analysts.

Naturally, the RE elements occur in the presence of one another where as a general rule:

• La, Ce, Nd, Pr and, Sm are most abundant;
• Dy, Er, Eu, Gd, and Tb are moderately abundant, and;
• Ho, Lu, Yb, and Tm are least abundant.

The groups are separated in concentration by one or more orders in magnitude, i.e., if Ce is low (1-4) % level, then Dy is hundreds of ppm and Tm is sub ppm.

The following table shows the Inorganic Ventures' preferred RE element emission and atomic mass unit lines. If possible, ICP-MS should be the measurement technique used because the mass interferences are far less of a problem than spectral emission interferences:

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