4. Significance and Use
4.1 The presence of metals in PTA used for the production
of polyester is undesirable because they may speed up or slow
down the reaction and be impurities in the final product.
4.2 Determination of the metals in PTA is often required.
This test method is suitable for setting specifications and for
use as an internal quality control where these products are
produced or used.
4.3 This test method covers the determination of sodium,
chromium, cobalt, aluminum, titanium, potassium,
magnesium, manganese, iron, nickel, molybdenum, and cal-
cium.
5. Apparatus
5.1 Inductively-Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission
Spectrometer—Any commercial sequential or simultaneous
ICP-AES instrument capable of measuring emission intensities
of the elements of interest (listed in Table 1).
5.2 Analytical Balance, readable to 60.0001 g.
6. Reagents and Materials
6.1 Purity of Reagents—Unless otherwise indicated, it is
intended that all reagents shall conform to the reagent grade
specification for analytical reagents of the American Chemical
Society,
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where such specifications are available. Other grades
may be used, provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is
of sufficiently high purity to permit its use without lessening
the performance or accuracy of the determination. Reagent
chemicals shall be used for all tests.
NOTE 1—Calibration and detection limits of this test method can be
biased by the purity of the reagents.
6.2 Argon Gas—99.99 % minimum purity. (Warning—
Argon is under high pressure.)
6.3 Nitrogen Gas—99.99 % minimum purity. (Warning—
Nitrogen is under high pressure.)
6.4 Purity of Water—Unless otherwise indicated, references
to water shall be understood to mean Type I reagent water
conforming or exceeding Specification D1193. Freshly drawn
water should be used for preparation of all stock and working
standards, and sample solutions.
6.5 Ammonium Hydroxide—25 %(wt) to 28 %(wt).
NOTE 2—The metal impurities in ammonia hydroxide should be no
more than 10 µg/kg, and the non-metallic impurities should be no more
than 100 mg/kg. The reagent may be purchased.
6.6 Ammonium Hydroxide Solution—Pipette 13 mL of am-
monia hydroxide (6.5) to a 100 mL volumetric flask, fill the
volumetric flask to the mark with water.
6.7 Internal Standard Stock Solution—1000 mg/L. The
single element chosen for the internal standard should not be a
component of the sample or calibration standard. Cadmium
and yttrium were found to perform well as an internal standard
for this test method and are recommended. The standard may
be purchased.
6.8 Internal Standard Solution—100 mg/L. Pipette 10 mL of
Internal Standard stock solution (6.7) to a 100 mL volumetric
flask, fill the volumetric flask to the mark with water.
6.9 Single Element Standard Stock Solution—1000 mg/L.
The test elements are listed in Table 1. The standards may be
purchased.
6.10 Single Element Standard Solution—100 mg/L. Pipette
10 mL of the single element standard stock solution (6.9) to a
100 mL volumetric flask, fill the volumetric flask to the mark
with water.
6.11 Multi-element Mixed Standard Solution—1.0 mg/L.
Pipette 1 mL of each single element standard solution (6.10) to
a100 mL volumetric flask, fill the volumetric flask to the
volume mark with water. Seal the volumetric flask and mix
well. Prepare fresh multi-element mixed standard solution
daily when samples are to be analyzed.
6.12 Working Standards—The working standards are pre-
pared as follows: pipette 0 mL, 0.5 mL, 1.0 mL, 2.0 mL,
3.0 mL, and 5.0 mL of the multi-element mixed standard
solution (6.11) into six separate 100 mL volumetric flasks. And
then pipette 0.2 mL of the internal standard (6.8) into each
volumetric flask. Dilute to the mark with the ammonium
hydroxide solution (6.6). Seal the volumetric flask and mix
well. The working standards will be 0.0 µg ⁄L, 5.0 µg ⁄L,
10.0 µg ⁄L, 20.0 µg ⁄L, 30.0 µg ⁄L, 50.0 µg/L of each element of
interest, and 200.0 µg/L of internal standard. Working stan-
dards are to be prepared daily when samples are to be analyzed.
7. Hazards
7.1 Consult current federal regulations, supplier’s Safety
Data Sheets, and local regulations for all materials used in this
test method.
8. Sampling and Test Specimens
8.1 Use only representative samples obtained as described
in EN ISO 8213, unless otherwise specified.
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ACS Reagent Chemicals, Specifications and Procedures for Reagents and
Standard-Grade Reference Materials, American Chemical Society, Washington,
DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not listed by the American Chemical
Society, see Analar Standards for Laboratory Chemicals, BDH Ltd., Poole, Dorset,
U.K., and the United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary, U.S. Pharma-
copeial Convention, Inc. (USPC), Rockville, MD.
TABLE 1 Element and Recommended Wavelengths
A
Element Wavelength (nm)
Cobalt 228.616
Manganese 257.610
Iron 238.204
Chromium 267.716
Nickel 221.648
Sodium 589.592
Titanium 334.940
Molybdenum 202.033
Magnesium 285.231
Potassium 766.490
Calcium 317.933
Aluminum 396.153
Cadmium
B
228.802
Yttrium
B
371.029
A
These wavelengths are only suggested and do not represent all possible
choices. Other appropriate interference free wavelengths may also be used.
Consult instrument manufacture’s instructions or other ICP-AES references.
B
Cadmium and Yttrium are used as internal standards.
D8130 − 17 (2024)
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