Ultrasonic plasma mass spectrometry

ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) is frequently used for determining ultratrace amounts of technetium [9]. In spite of the high cost of the equipment, this detection method is far superior to other radiometric methods as regards sensitivity. When a double focussing high-resolution system is used (HR-ICP-MS) and an ultrasonic nebulizer is introduced [10], the detection limit is in the order 0.002 mBq. The ICP-MS method has been successfully applied to the determination of environmental "Tc as well as to other long-lived radionuclides of neptunium and plutonium in the environment. 

Montaser A, Tan H, lishi II, Nam SFI, CaiM (1991) Argon inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with thermospray, ultrasonic, and pneumatic nebulization. Anal Chem 63 2660-2665 Montaser A, Minnich MG, Liu FI, Gustavsson AGT, Browner RF (1998) Fundamental aspects of sample introduction in ICP spectrometry. In Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Montaser A (ed), Wiley-VCH, New York, p 335-420... 

B. Gammelgaard, O. Jons, Comparison of an ultrasonic nebulizer with cross-flow nebulizer for selenium speciation by ion-chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, J. Anal. Atom. Spectrom., 15 (2000), 499-505. 

K. L. Yang, S. J. Jiang, Determination of selenium-compounds in urine samples by liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry with an ultrasonic nebuliser, Anal. Chim. Acta, 307 (1995), 109-115. 

As noted earlier, USNs have been employed for sample insertion into atomic spectrometers suoh as flame atomio absorption spectrometry (FAAS) [9,10], electrothermal atomic absorption speotrometry (ETAAS) [11], atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) [12,13], induotively ooupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) [14,15], inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) [16,17] and microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (MIP-AES) [18,19]. Most of the applications of ultrasonic nebulization (USNn) involve plasma-based detectors, the high sensitivity, selectivity, precision, resolution and throughput have fostered their implementation in routine laboratories despite their high cost [4]. 

Lu, Q. Barnes, R.M. Evaluation of an ultrasonic nebulizer interface for capillary electrophoresis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Microchem. J. 1996, 54, 129-143. 

Detection limits are presented for 61 elements by ten analytical determinative methods FAAS flame atomic absorption spectrometry ETAAS electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry HGAAS hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry including CVAAS cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry for Hg ICPAES(PN) inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry utilizing a pneumatic nebulizer ICPAES(USN) inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry utilizing an ultrasonic nebulizer ICPMS inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry Voltammetry TXRF total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry INAA instrumental activation neutron analysis RNAA radiochemical separation neutron activation analysis also defined in list of acronyms. 

ICP-AES(USN) inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectrometry, with ultrasonic nebulization ICP-AES inductively coupled plasma -atomic emission spectrometry ICP-AFS inductively coupled plasma atomic fluorescence spectrometry ICP-MS inductively coupled plasma -mass spectrometry... 

Duyck, C., Miekeley, N., Porto da Silveira, C. L., and Szatmari, P., Trace Element Determination in Crude Oil and Its Fractions by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Using Ultrasonic Nebulization of Toluene Solutions, Spectrochimica Acta Part B Atomic Spectroscopy, Vol. 57, 2002, pp. 1979-1990... 

Kahen, K., Jorabchi, K, and Montaser, A. (2006) Desolvation-induced nonlinearity in the analysis of bromine using an ultrasonic nebulizer with membrane desolvation and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. 

Poitrasson, F. and Dundas, S.H. (1999) Direct isotope ratio measurement of ultra-trace lead in waters by double focusing inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with an ultrasonic nebuliser and a desolvation unit. 

Kwok, K., Carr, J.E., Webster, G.K., and Carnahan, J.W., (2006) Determination of active pharmaceutical ingredients by heteroatom selective detection using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with ultrasonic nebulization and membrane desolvation sample introduction. j4ppi. Spectrosc., 60, 80-85. 

Brenner, I.B., Zander, A., Plantz, M., Zhu, J., (1997), Characterization of an ultrasonic nebulizer - member separation interface with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the determination of trace elements by solvent extraction, J. Anal. At Spectrom. 12, 273-279. 

Duyck, C. Miekeley, N. Silveira, C.L.P. Szatmari, P., (2002), Trace element determination in crude oil and its fractions by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using ultrasonic nebulization of toluene solutions, Spectrodiim. Acta, 57B, 1979-1990. 

Reprinted (adapted) with permission from Shao Mingwu, Wei Chao, Jia Yongjuan, Dai Xinhua, and Fang Xiang (2010) Determination of selected polybrominated diphenylethers and polybrominated biphenyl in polymers by ultrasonic-assisted extraction and high-perfonnance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Analytical Chemistry... 

Creed, J.T., Martin,T. D., and Brockhoff, C. A. (1995). Ultrasonic nebulization and arsenic valence state considerations prior to determination via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.J.zlnu/./lr. Spectrom. 10(6), 443. 

Erogju, A. E., McLeod, C. W., Leonard, K. S., and McCubbin, D. (1998). Determination of plutonium in seawater using co-precipitation and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with ultrasonic nebuHsation. Spectrochim.Acta, Part B 53(6-8), 1221. 

Gregoire, D. C., Miller-lhli, N. J., and Sturgeon, R. E. (1994). Direct analysis of solids by ultrasonic slurry electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. /. Anal. At. Spectrom. 9(5), 605. 

Joannon, S.,Telouk, P., and Pin, C. (1997). Determination of U andXh at ultra-trace levels by isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using a geyser-type ultrasonic nebulizer Application to geological samples. Spectrochim.Acta, Part B 52(12), 1783. 

Mesquita da Silva, M. A. and Frescura, V. L. A. (2000) Determination of trace elements in water samples by ultrasonic nebuhzation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry alter cloud point extraction. Spectrochim. Acta B, 55,803-13. 

Miller-lhli, N. J. and Baker, S. A. (2001) Microhomogeneity assessments using ultrasonic slurry sampling coupled with electrothermal vaporization isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Spectrochim. Acta B, 56,1673-86. 

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