I was supposed to prepare a 10 ppm boron solution, but I mistakenly prepared a 10 ppm boric acid solution, which actually contained only 1.75 ppm boron.
When I sent my sample for ICP analysis, I incorrectly identified the 10 ppm boric acid solution as a standard solution containing 10 ppm boron.
The results I received from the analysis were based on the incorrect standard solution and showed a concentration of around 10 ppm.
Later, I realized my mistake and prepared the correct 10 ppm boron solution and obtained results at 10 ppm. ( The aim of the experiment was achieved BUT I have collected a significant amount of data obtained from the 1.75 ppm solution and I would like to include it in my data results and i want to refer to them as 1.75ppm concentration)
My question is :
Is there a way to adjust the data obtained from the 10 ppm analysis to reflect the true concentration of 1.75 ppm, so that I can include it in my thesis and refer to it correctly?
Any suggestions or insights would be appreciated.
Yes. Your standard was weak (1.75/10.0), thus your samples were mislabelled with results that were high (10.0/1.75). Just multiply the sample results by 1.75/10.0 = 0.175 (assuming both 1.75 and 10.0 are both in the linear range, a good assumption since ICP is normally linear over a 6 fold range).
Just to be sure, you should 'spike' some samples with your 10 ppm standard and have them reanalysed so that your %recovery is >95% and that your 1.75 ppm standard is 'not less than' your LOQ.
It would be best to change proportionally (by the multiplier = 1.75/10) all the values of boron concentrations in the prepared calibration and control solutions entered into the table of calibration concentration values in the measurement task already performed on the ICP spectrometer. And re-reporting. A good practice when performing spectrometric measurements, e.g. ICP, is to add a control solution from outside the laboratory, preferably a certified one, to the group of measured solutions.
ZJ
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