Detection multielement

High dynamic range in a single experimental run. Radionuclide blanks are often extraordinarily low, far below detectability. Multielement analysis by simultaneous use of different tracer nuclides, often without separation. 

An energy dispersive spectrometer is cheaper and faster for multielement analytical purposes but has poorer detection limits and resolution. 

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a multielement analytical method with detection limits which are, for many trace elements, including the rare earth elements, better than those of most conventional techniques. With increasing availability of ICP-MS instalments in geological laboratories this method has been established as the most prominent technique for the determination of a large number of minor and trace elements in geological samples. 

Multielement analysis, excellent detection limits for heavy metals quantitative measurement of heavy-metal trace contamination on silicon wafers... 

Atomic absorption spectroscopy of VPD solutions (VPD-AAS) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) offer similar detection limits for metallic impurities with silicon substrates. The main advantage of TXRF, compared to VPD-AAS, is its multielement capability AAS is a sequential technique that requires a specific lamp to detect each element. Furthermore, the problem of blank values is of little importance with TXRF because no handling of the analytical solution is involved. On the other hand, adequately sensitive detection of sodium is possible only by using VPD-AAS. INAA is basically a bulk analysis technique, while TXRF is sensitive only to the surface. In addition, TXRF is fast, with an typical analysis time of 1000 s turn-around times for INAA are on the order of weeks. Gallium arsenide surfaces can be analyzed neither by AAS nor by INAA. 

ICP-OES is one of the most successful multielement analysis techniques for materials characterization. While precision and interference effects are generally best when solutions are analyzed, a number of techniques allow the direct analysis of solids. The strengths of ICP-OES include speed, relatively small interference effects, low detection limits, and applicability to a wide variety of materials. Improvements are expected in sample-introduction techniques, spectrometers that detect simultaneously the entire ultraviolet—visible spectrum with high resolution, and in the development of intelligent instruments to further improve analysis reliability. ICPMS vigorously competes with ICP-OES, particularly when low detection limits are required. 

Minganti V, Capelli R, Depellegrini R (1995) Evaluation of different derivatization methods for the multielement detection of Hg, Pb and Sn compounds by gas chromatography-microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry in environmental samples. Fresenius Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 351 (4-5) 471 77. 

Vol. 107. Multielement Detection Systems for Spectrochemical Analysis. By Kenneth W. Busch and Marianna A. Busch... 

Schade, J. E., Marsh, G. L., and Eckert, J. E. (1958). Diastatic activity and hydroxymethylfur-fural in honey and their usefulness in detecting heat adulteration. Food Res. 23, 446-463. Schellenberg, A., Chmielus, S., Schlicht, C., Camin, F., Perini, M., Bontempo, L., Heinrich, K., Kelly, S. D., Rossmann, A., Thomas, F., Jamin, E., and Horacek, M. (2010). Multielement stable isotope ratios (H, C, N, S) of honey from different European regions. Food Chem. 121, 770-777. 

ICP-MS Multielement detection Trace elements Speciation Expensive [36]... 

MIP-MS Multielement detection (especially nonmetals) Trace elements Expensive Selectivity poor for many elements [36,49,50]... 

A recent extension of the scope of SPE-GC and SPE-GC-MS concerns the use of AED detection with its multielement detection capability and unusually high selectivity. Hankemeier [67] has described on-line SPE-GC-AED with an on-column interface to transfer 100 iL of desorbing solvent to the GC. The fully on-line set-up is characterised by detection limits of 5-20 ngL because of quantitative transfer of the analytes from the SPE to the GC module. On-line coupling of SPE with GC is more delicate than SPE-LC, because of the inherent incompatibility between the aqueous part of the SPE step and the dry part of the GC system. 

Mass spectrometry is the only universal multielement method which allows the determination of all elements and their isotopes in both solids and liquids. Detection limits for virtually all elements are low. Mass spectrometry can be more easily applied than other spectroscopic techniques as an absolute method, because the analyte atoms produce the analytical signal themselves, and their amount is not deduced from emitted or absorbed radiation the spectra are simple compared to the line-rich spectra often found in optical emission spectrometry. The resolving power of conventional mass spectrometers is sufficient to separate all isotope signals, although expensive instruments and skill are required to eliminate interferences from molecules and polyatomic cluster ions. 

Although ICP-AES is a multielement technique, its inferior detection limits relative to GFAAS would necessitate the processing of large volumes of seawater, improvements in the preconcentration procedures in use thus far, or new, alternative preconcentration procedures such as carrier precipitation (see below). 

Chong et al. [742] have described a multielement analysis of multicomponent metallic electrode deposits, based on scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence detection, followed by dissolution and ICP-MS detection. Application of the method is described for determination of trace elements in seawater, including the above elements. These elements are simultaneously electrodeposited onto a niobium-wire working electrode at -1.40 V relative to an Ag/AgCl reference electrode, and subjected to energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy analysis. Internal standardisation... 

Prange et al. [809,810] carried out multielement determinations of the stated dissolved heavy metals in Baltic seawater by total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectrometry. The metals were separated by chelation adsorption of the metal complexes on lipophilised silica-gel carrier and subsequent elution of the chelates by a chloroform/methanol mixture. Trace element loss or contamination could be controlled because of the relatively simple sample preparation. Aliquots of the eluate were then dispersed in highly polished quartz sample carriers and evaporated to thin films for spectrometric measurements. Recoveries (see Table 5.10), detection limits, and reproducibilities of the method for several metals were satisfactory. 

This analytical method, based on TXRF, enables a large number of trace elements to be determined simultaneously. The range is suitable for different areas of the sea. The motivation to use TXRF resulted mainly from the characteristic features of the method its high detection power, its universal calibration curve, which eliminates the need for matrix-dependent standard samples or standard-addition procedures, the simple preparation of the sample films, and of course the possibility of multielement determination. 

Until ICP and PIXE were developed in the 1980s NAA was the standard analytical method for producing multielement analyses, with detection levels... 

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