Determination of Ca, Mg, Na, Cd, Cu, Fe, K, Li and Zn in acid mine and reference water samples by inductively coupled plasma atomic fluorescence spectrometry

Reference and mine water samples were analysed by inductively coupled plasma atomic fluorescence spectrometry (ICP-AFS) to demonstrate the usefulness of the technique for hydrogeological exploration. The ICP-AFS was coupled with an Apple II computer for collection and reduction of data. Elements were determined in two groups according to the compatibility of operating conditions and consideration of element abundance in the samples. Calcium, magnesium, and sodium were determined as a group after 1 to 99 dilution of the sample. Cadmium, copper, iron, potassium, lithium and zinc were determined as a second group using undiluted samples. The detection limits found for the various elements were in ng per ml: calcium, 1.4; magnesium 1.7; sodium 2.0; cadmium 1.8; copper, 6.2; iron, 15.8; potassium, 3.5; lithium, 0.3; and zinc, 1.2. The method had good precision and accuracy and results compared with those obtained by other analytical methods. Analysis of 100 samples per day per analyst could easily be achieved.