Rapid determination of Ferrum, Manganese, Strontium and Barium in geothermal water by ICP-OES

Developing a rapid and precise method for trace element analysis in geothermal water is crucial due to its high total dissolved solids and salinity, which can impact element determination. In this study, we optimized the determination of ferrum, manganese, strontium and barium in geothermal water samples collected from different regions. A matrix matching method was established for accurate quantification using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Instrumental conditions and experimental parameters were optimized, and the influence of storage medium and storage duration on measurement accuracy were evaluated. The results demonstrated that storing geothermal water samples in 1% nitric acid had no significant impact on measurement results over an eight-week period. Calibration curve correlation coefficients exceeded 0.9998 for all target elements. The detection limits of this method ranged from 0.0002 mg/L to 0.0031 mg/L, with Relative Standard Deviations (RSD) were 0.07%–2.33%, and spike recovery rates were from 96.8% to 103.2%. The obtained data were consistent with results from the standard addition method and dilution method, demonstrating the reliability of this approach. This method offers low detection limits, high precision and excellent recovery rate, providing a robust reference for the accurate determination of ferrum, manganese, strontium and barium in geothermal water, thereby laying a solid foundation for the development and utilization of geothermal resources.