Determination of trace and ultra-trace elements in wet-digested steel samples using inductively coupled plasma time of flight mass spectrometry (ICP-TOFMS)

Four steel materials were wet-digested with aqua regia by using a microwave-assisted system, and the analyses were carried out with inductively coupled plasma time of flight mass spectrometry (ICP-TOFMS). Trace and ultra-trace concentrations were determined for the elements Ti, Zn, Ga, Nb, Sn, Sb, Te, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Ta, Ir, Pt, Tl, Pb, Bi and U. The concentrations found were at the µg g−1 (ppm) level or lower. For some elements the concentrations were below the limit of quantitation, and this was especially the case for many elements in the two low alloy steels.