Determination of trace amounts of mercury, lead and cadmium in steels by ICP-MS after ion exchange chromatographic separation

Trace amounts of mercury, lead, and cadmium at a level of ng g(-1) in steel were determined by ICP-MS after cation-exchange chromatographic separation. The sample was decomposed with nitric acid, and the analytes were separated from the iron matrix in 1 M hydrofluoric acid solution, Using the cation-exchange resin packed in a mini-column. The elements adsorbed on the resin were eluted by 8 M hydrochloric acid solution and determined by ICP-MS simultaneously. he lower limits of detection based on 3 sigma of blank values were 2 ng g(-1) for mercury, 9 ng g(-1) lead, and 0.5 ng g(-1) for cadmium.