title: Slurry nebulization for the analysis of gypsum and cement by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry.
abstract: The usual form of presentation for a sample to be analyzed by an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer is in the form of a liquid. For the analysis of solids, this involves a dissolution step and in the case of complex matrices this may be long and difficult. Should it be possible to analyse the sample without prior dissolution, then the problems associated with obtaining a solution would be resolved. A method for analyzing samples is to make use of slurry nebulization. Samples with complex matrices, such as cement and gypsum were selected and analysed as in the form of a slurry. Using different concentrations of a certified reference materials, calibration curves were obtained, from which the unknown samples could be determined directly. Use of aqueous solutions for calibration was also investigated. The method was evaluated using other reference materials or results obtained by an independent laboratory using different technique for the analysis. The slurry method was found to be accurate and precise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Physics, Technikon Pretoria, P/B X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
authors.forename: Robert I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: McCrindle
authors.forename: Ljiljana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marjanovic
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D002133:Calcium Sulfate / Q000032:analysis*; D003738:Dental Cements / Q000032:analysis; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D003738:Dental Cements; D002133:Calcium Sulfate