Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry: an efficient tool for precise determination of Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios in biocarbonates

Appl Spectrosc. 2003 Jun;57(6):711-4. doi: 10.1366/000370203322005427.

Abstract

A method is developed to precisely determine Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios in biocarbonates by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). This method precision (RSD%) is 0.52% for Mg/Ca and 0.28% for Sr/Ca, respectively. The precision suggests that ICP-AES is satisfactory for supplying good quality Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca data of biocarbonates for paleo-reconstruction. This ICP-AES technique was applied to 51 continuous coral subsamples, and the results show annually periodical variations in coral Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios, which are consistent with previous findings.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anthozoa / chemistry*
  • Carbonates / analysis*
  • Carbonates / chemistry
  • Gases
  • Hot Temperature
  • Magnesium / analysis*
  • Magnesium / chemistry
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrophotometry, Atomic / methods*
  • Strontium / analysis*
  • Strontium / chemistry

Substances

  • Carbonates
  • Gases
  • Magnesium
  • Strontium