Protecting soil from contamination is a recognized priority for resource planners around the globe. A vital and largely nonrenewable resource, soil may easily be damaged or have its functions impaired by contamination from industrial emissions or waste treatment. ICP-OES instruments are frequently used for the analysis of soil and sludge and recent advances in technology have made entry-level instruments much more affordable.
This paper covers the analysis of soil and sewage sludge utilizing an ICP-OES analyzer with radial plasma observation per US and European regulatory procedures. Analytical capabilities — such as sensitivity, precision, speed, and accuracy — required for successful analyses were examined.