Inductively coupled plasma mass applications

Laser based mass spectrometric methods, such as laser ionization (LIMS) and laser ablation in combination with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) are powerful analytical techniques for survey analysis of solid substances. To realize the analytical performances methods for the direct trace analysis of synthetic and natural crystals modification of a traditional analytical technique was necessary and suitable standard reference materials (SRM) were required. Recent developments allowed extending the range of analytical applications of LIMS and LA-ICP-MS will be presented and discussed. For example ... 

A.R. Date and A.L. Gray, Applications of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, Blackie, Glasgow (1989). 

J.-M. Mermet, in Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and Its Applications (S.J. Hill, ed.), Sheffield Academic Press, Sheffield (1999), pp. 35-70. 

Tykot, R. H. and S. M. M. Young (1996), Archaeological applications for inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy, in Orna, M. V. (ed.), Archaeological Chemistry, Advances in Chemistry Series, Vol. 5, ACS, Washington, DC, pp. 116-130. 

There is a branch of MS specially designed for dealing with the analysis of inorganic materials.[21,22] Different specific ionization techniques, such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS),[23] glow discharge mass spectrometry (GD-MS)[24] and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS),[25] are available and they are widely used in cultural heritage applications. Their description is beyond the scope of this chapter. 

The corrosion of antimony electrodes was also measured using ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) for dissolved antimony in vivo [156], After the electrodes were inserted in the plasma, the antimony concentration showed a linear rise with time at a rate approximately of 94 j,g/L/h (r2 = 0.997). Although the projected antimony concentration is lower than the safe limit, accumulation of dissolved antimony and localized toxic effects in tissue may prevent the antimony electrode from long-term implantable applications. 

Chapters 5 and 6 discuss the application of new techniques such as atomic absorption spectrometry with and without graphite furnace and Zeeman background correction, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, X-ray fluo-... 

At present, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry provides a unique, powerful alternative for the determination of rare earths in natural samples [638,639]. Nevertheless, its application to the determination of rare earths at ultratrace concentration level in seawater is limited, because highly saline samples can cause both spectral interferences and matrix effects [640]. Therefore, a separation of the matrix components and preconcentration of the analytes are prerequisites. To achieve this goal, many preconcentration techniques have been used, including coprecipitation with... 

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is now such an important technique in archaeology, as elsewhere, that we devote a whole chapter to it. There are now a number of different ICP MS modes of operation (solution analysis, laser ablation, multicollector, high resolution) this chapter provides a general overview. Further description of the instrumentation for ICP MS may be found in Harris (1997) and Montaser (1998). Some general applications of solution ICP MS are discussed by Date and Gray (1989), Platzner (1997), and Kennett et al. (2001). 

Evans, R. D. and Outridge, P. M. (1994). Applications of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to the determination of environmental contaminants in calcified biological structures. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectroscopy 9 985-989. 

Watmough, S. A., Hutchinson, T. C., and Evans, R. D. (1996). Application of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry in dendrochemical analysis. Environmental Science and Technology 31 114-118. 

In the environment, Mo isotope research began in earnest with the application of multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. While much work remains to be done, this early research points to promising applications in paleoceanography, and beyond. 

Michalke, B. (2005). Capillary electrophoresis-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry a report on technical principles and problem solutions, potential, and limitations of this technology as well as on examples of application. Electrophoresis 26, 1584—1597. 

To optimize the applicability of the electrothermal vaporization technique, the most critical requirement is the design of the sample transport mechanism. The sample must be fully vaporized without any decomposition, after desolvation and matrix degradation, and transferred into the plasma. Condensation on the vessel walls or tubing must be avoided and the flow must be slow enough for elements to be atomized efficiently in the plasma itself. A commercial electrothermal vaporizer should provide flexibility and allow the necessary sample pretreatment to introduce a clean sample into the plasma. Several commercial systems are now available, primarily for the newer technique of inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. These are often extremely expensive, so home built or cheaper systems may initially seem attractive. However, the cost of any software and hardware interfacing to couple to the existing instrument should not be underestimated. 

In 1C, the election-detection mode is the one based on conductivity measurements of solutions in which the ionic load of the eluent is low, either due to the use of eluents of low specific conductivity, or due to the chemical suppression of the eluent conductivity achieved by proper devices (see further). Nevertheless, there are applications in which this kind of detection is not applicable, e.g., for species with low specific conductivity or for species (metals) that can precipitate during the classical detection with suppression. Among the techniques that can be used as an alternative to conductometric detection, spectrophotometry, amperometry, and spectroscopy (atomic absorption, AA, atomic emission, AE) or spectrometry (inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, ICP-MS, and MS) are those most widely used. Hence, the wide number of techniques available, together with the improvement of stationary phase technology, makes it possible to widen the spectrum of substances analyzable by 1C and to achieve extremely low detection limits. 

The Nickel Producers Environmental Research Association (NiPERA) is sponsoring research on the application of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) to isotopic analysis of nickel in biological samples, on the development of sampling instrumentation for assessing workers exposure to nickel in the nickel industry, and on methods for utilizing newly developed analytical methods, such as laser beam ionization mass spectrometry, for the identification and speciation of nickel compounds in powders and dusts with particular reference to nickel refining. 

Tykot RH, Young SMM (1996) Archaeological applications of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, In Archaeological Chemistry Organic, Inorganic and Biochemical Analysis, Oma MV (Ed) ACS Symposium Series 625, 116-130. 

The quasi-simultaneous separation and determination of lanthanides and actinides by ion chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry combined with the isotope dilution technique and the further use of ion chromatography for the determination of fission products and actinides in nuclear applications are described by Betti et ul.10 48 68... 

Further applications of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the trace and ultratrace and isotope analysis of long-hved radionuclides are discussed in references1 3,9actinide elements is presented by Geipel.91... 

R. Thomas. Practical Guide to ICP-MS (New York Marcel Dekker. 2004) H. E. Taylor, Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (San Diego Academic Press, 2001) C. M. Barshick, D. C. Duckworth, and D. H. Smith, eds.. Inorganic Mass Spectrometry (New York Marcel Dekker, 2000) S. J. Hill, ed., Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry and Its Applications (Sheffield, UK Sheffield Academic Press, 1999) A. Montaser, ed., Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (New York Wiley, 1998) G. Holland and... 

Several other microanalytical methods in common use potentially have application on soil and sediments section samples. Laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometery (LA-ICP-MS) has been used on soil thin-sections from a controlled field experiment (21) but required special resins in the preparation. There is presently (May 2006) no reported use of this method on archaeological soil samples. Likewise, for extremely fine-resolution studies (i.e. <10 pm) with low minimum detection limits and despite difficult calibration, secondary ion microscopy (SIMS) has a potential role in examining archaeological soil thin sections. At even higher lateral resolutions ( 100 nm) Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) could also be considered for surface (<5 nm deep) analyses. At present however, the use of these methods in soil systems is limited. SIMS has been focused on biochemical applications (22), whereas AES... 

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