A complete inorganic survey study to reveal and study sensitometric deviations in photographic AgX emulsions by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) offers excellent possibilities for multi-element trace analysis of photographic silver halide emulsions. In the present study, an analytical method was developed for the simultaneous determination of essential elements, such as ruthenium, rhodium, iridium and gold, in small emulsion samples, both overall as well as on the crystal surface. Sample preparation was performed by dissolving the silver halide emulsion into a self-made acid fixer. In-house standard reference emulsion material was prepared to verify the accuracy and precision of the quantitative method. The final result is a quantitative method for the selected elements with a precision of typically I per cent or better with relative standard deviations of 0.1-2.0 per cent. Detection limits were in the range 0.01-0.03 μg/kg. Using the scanning mode option of the instrument, the complete mass spectrum can be generated. Overlays can be made of two mass spectra and used as 'fingerprints' to reveal sensitometric deviations. Hence elemental trends can be traced or anomalies pinpointed in large batches of samples.