What is inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

5 What is inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry  

Isotopes of different elements that form ions of the same nominal mass-to-charge ratio are not resolved by the quadrupole mass spectrometer, and cause isobaric elemental interferences. Typically, ICP-MS instrument operating software will have all known isobaric interferences entered, and will perform necessary correction calculations automatically. However, increasing the spectrometer resolution power from m/Am=400 to 1000 minimises abundance sensitivity interferences. 

Physical interferences include differences in viscosity, surface tension and dissolved solids between sample and calibration standards. To minimise these effects, solid levels in analytical samples should not exceed 0.2% w/v, which requires the dilution of the digest before analysis. Use of several internal standards for correction of physical interferences is suitable when carrying out analysis of soil digest. 

Due to the very high sensitivity of the ICP-MS technique, memory (carry over) effects may occur when analytes from a previous sample are measured in the current sample. In cases where analysis of highly polluted soil digests is carried out, memory effects can occur, they may be indications of problems in the sample introduction system. Severe memory interferences may require disassembly and the cleaning of the entire sample introduction system, including the plasma torch and the sampler and skimmer cones. Due to these memory 

Metal Recommended isotopes4 Measured isotopeb BEC (ng/L) BEC (lig/kg)c Plasma moded 

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