Source of Zn contamination

Hi ICP users.

I have a question about a possible (suspected) source of Zn contamination.

I am using a CEM SPD microwave system for sample prep and I am obliged to use a magnetic stirring bar in every quartz microwave vessel. For a long time now I have problems with random high Zn counts. A duplo measurement (separate prep with different vessels and stirring bars) can vary from <0.05 to 10 ppm Zn.

My question is this: can the material of the magnetic stirring bars be responsible for Zn contamination? I never analyse samples with very high Zn content. My quartz vessels are cleaned an checked. It is a mystery to me.

Hope one of you can give me some advice.

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0 ChrisBevan 6 months ago

Do you use nitrile gloves? We have experienced Zn contamination from something as little as the gloves we use to handle items transferring at low ug/l levels.
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0 carwogill 6 months ago in reply to ChrisBevan

Thanx for your suggestion Chris! For transferring my acid digested samples I use rubber latex gloves and I found that these are also suspect. However, I need to protect my hands from the nitric acid, so I have decided to cover the rubber latex ones with lightweight PE gloves for this specific task. The initial results seem promising
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0 carwogill 6 months ago in reply to ChrisBevan

Thanx for your suggestion Chris! For transferring my acid digested samples I use rubber latex gloves and I found that these are also suspect. However, I need to protect my hands from the nitric acid, so I have decided to cover the rubber latex ones with lightweight PE gloves for this specific task. The initial results seem promising
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