ICP OES Simultaneous Determination of Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, and P in Biodiesel by Axial and Radial Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry

Abstract

A simple and rapid method for the simultaneous determination of seven trace elements in biodiesel by axial and radial view Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP OES) is proposed, in which the sample is emulsified with Triton X-100 and water, and in which yttrium is employed as an internal standard. The better obtained quantification limits (10 s) were by axial view, 0.165, 0.099, 0.033, 0.007, 0.016, 0.132, 0.660 µg g⁻¹ for Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, and P, respectively, based on a sample mass of 1.0 g diluted to a final mass of 10 g in the analytical solution. Calibration was carried out with aqueous standards, thus avoiding the use of frequently instable organic standards. Elemental recoveries were in the range of 90 to 109% for all seven analytes studied, and also the precision of the method was satisfactory (RSD < 8%).

Keywords:

• Axial and radial view
• biodiesel
• emulsions
• ICP OES
• trace elements

The authors thank CNPq (Brazil) for research grants. The skill and dedication of our laboratory technician, M. Dupin, is also gratefully acknowledged.