An inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry quantification method for the determination of Al, Ca, Cr Cu, Fe, Mn, Mg, Ni, Zn, Ba, K, In and Co in lead zirconate-titanate (PZT) ceramics, modified with strontium and chromium, was developed. Total digestion of ceramics was achieved with a HNO(3), H(2)O(2) and HF (ac) mixture by using a microwave furnace. The sensitivity of the net signal intensity respect to radiofrequency power (P) and nebulizer argon flow (F(N)) variations was strongly dependent of the total excitation energy of line (TEE). For lines with TEE near metastable atoms and ions of argon, an increment of the sensitivities to P and F(N) variation was observed. At robust plasma conditions the matrix effect was reduced for all matrices and analytes considered. The precision of analysis ranged from 3 to 13%, whereas the analytes recoveries in the spiked samples varied, mostly, from 90 to 110%. The detection limits of studied elements were from 0.004 to 10 mg kg(-1).
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