Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry -line selection and accuracy in the determination of platinum, palladium, rhodium, barium and lead in automotive catalytic converters

Abstract

This work shows that by using ICP-AES and the Q-concept for quantification of spectral interferences in the determination of Pt, Pd, Rh, Pb and Ba in catalytic automotive converters with aluminum as matrix component, the errors in the measurement of net line signals resulting from erroneous background determination can be eliminated. The auto-catalyst certified reference material SRM 2556 for Pt, Pd and Rh was used for experimental demonstration of the accuracy of analytical results. Extraction with aqua regia was used as a dissolution procedure. Samples of poisoned automotive catalytic converters were analyzed. The platinum group elements, plus barium and lead were determined. Relatively high concentrations of lead (catalytic poison) were found in the catalyst samples. In this case a non-uniform longitudinal distribution (along the catalyst) of platinum group elements was established