Development and validation of seaFAST-ICP-QMS method for determination of rare earth elements total concentrations in natural mineral waters.

The method for determination of rare earth elements (REE: La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) total concentrations in mineral waters was developed and validated. The proposed method comprised inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) detection and the 10-fold off-line REE preconcentration. To improve the method sensitivity and selectivity, the major matrix components and elements causing severe spectral interferences (Ba and Sr) were removed by the seaFAST-pico chromatographic system.