HELGES – iCAP Q | Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (Q-ICP-MS)
Contact:
Web:
Infrastructure belongs to:
To analyse element concentrations in a wide range of materials two Q-ICP-MS (iCAP Q by Thermo) are available. Samples can be analyses as solutions (e.g. water samples or rocks after acid-dissolution). Alternatively, a femtosecond laser ablation system can be coupled to the Q-ICP-MS for (in situ) micro-scale concentration analysis of solid samples.
Principles of Q-ICP-MS and sample preparatio:
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a versatile method for fast concentration analysis. A sample aerosol is introduced into the inductively coupled plasma (ICP), were all elements are atomised, ionised. Transferred into vacuum, then the isotopes of each element are separated by the quadrupole mass analyser and detected by a secondary electron multiplier (SEM). A variety of sample introduction systems is available, e.g. solution aspiration into a spraychamber or direct analysis of solids by laser ablation.
With Q-ICP-MS most elements can be quantified with uncertainties typically less than 10 % relative. Detection limits vary, generally in the ppt to ppb range in solution, and >ppm range with laser ablation on solids. The iCAP Q ICP-MS is equipped with a collision reaction cell to minimise interferences caused by molecule formation in the plasma (e.g., ¹⁴N²⁺ on ²⁸Si⁺) and improves accuracy and detection limits on interference-prone isotopes. A metal free clean lab with filtered air laminar flow workstations is available for preparation of liquid and solid samples (e.g., acid dissolution, element separation). Here, low concentration samples can be prepared for analysis avoiding contamination.
Categories
Disciplinary Keywords
Instrumentation
Laboratory instrumentation
Instrument
-
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) is one of the fastest growing inorganic analytical technologies of the 21st Century. Newly developed Time of Flight instrumentation is augmenting more traditional quadruple and magnetic sector based instrumentation. Laser ablation, graphite furnace, liquid and gas chromatographic interfacing has facilitated the analysis of a significantly increased variety of sample types, enabling the determination of up to sixty elements in samples as small as 10 micro-meters in diameter and improved the resolution and detection limits of organo-metallic species analysis in such matrices as foodstuffs, water, sediment and environmental samples. Additional information available at "http://www.curtin.edu.au/curtin/centre/cems/icp_ms.html" [Summary provided by CEMS] (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects pision, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords)