Determination of rare earth element and trace metals of geochemical interest in fumarolic gas. Validation of a ICP-MS method and statistical data evaluation through chemometric treatment

Abstract

The variations of the chemical composition in volcanic gases emissions provide important information about the state of activity and evolutionary tendencies of the observed natural system. The purpose of this research is the validation of an analytical method for the quantification of the lanthanides and trace metals of geochemistry interest, in a complex matrix like fumarolic condensates collected on NaOH or in NH3 4M solution. The low concentrations of the searched species (ng/l) required the development of a preconcentration methodology on chelating resins followed by ICP-MS analysis, that has been tested on synthetic matrices, and subsequently, on sample withdrawn from the fumarolic gas of Volcano island. Problems concerning the recoveries of the analytes and the parameters of method validation are then discusses.