红酒中的~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr同位素比测定

研究了多接收电感耦合等离子体质谱(MC-ICP-MS)测定红酒样品中87Sr/86Sr同位素比的分析方法,并用建立的分离测定方法参加了欧洲参考物质与测量研究所(IRMM)组织的CCQM-P105国际比对,即红酒中87Sr/86Sr同位素比的分析比对.红酒样品经微波消解后,采用Dowex 50W×8树脂分离纯化锶,用MC-ICP-MS精确测定锶组分中的87Sr/86Sr同位素比,同时对测量结果的不确定度进行了分析和评定.     

多接收器电感耦合等离子质谱精确测定钕同位素组成

报道了本实验室近两年来Neptune MC-ICP-MS测试Nd同位素的结果。测试结果显示样品化学分离中伴随的大量铈对钕同位素组成测定没有影响;而分离后残余少量钐,在一定范围内(钐/钕<0.04)可以直接扣除,获得准确的Nd同位素组成。Neptune MC-ICP-MS和热电离质谱(TIMS)平行测定实际地质样品表明,Neptune MC-ICP-MS可以精确测定Nd同位素组成,与经典的TIMS技术相比,MC-ICP-MS可以获得与TIMS相媲美的数据精度,而且分析时间缩短,效率明显提高。     

激光剥蚀多接收杯电感耦合等离子体质谱仪原位分析硫化物铅同位素组成

采用193 nm准分子激光与MC-ICP-MS质谱仪探讨了原位微区分析过程中物质基体效应对铅同位素测定的影响,指出选择基体匹配标准物质对测定硫化物铅同位素具有重要意义.通过模拟计算发现准确测定Tl与Hg的分馏因子关系,可以在204Hg/204 Pb＜2的范围内有效校对204Hg对204 Pb的干扰.研究表明,束斑直径(24～160μm)和剥蚀频率(2～20 Hz)并不影响铅同位素组成测试.改变激光剥蚀参数可以解决MC-ICP-MS信号检测范围较窄的问题.针对目前硫化物固体标准物质缺乏的现状,采用压片法和快速熔融法制备硫化物标准物质.压片样品铅同位素组成表现出较好的均一性,而不同批次快速熔融法样品存在铅同位素分馏,仅单次制造的熔融样品内部铅同位素组成具有均匀性.结果表明,虽然快速熔融法还存在一定缺陷,但这两种方法都有望成为硫化物标准样品制作方法的备选方案.利用本方法对天然硫化物样品(黄铁矿和闪锌矿)及人工合成硫化物样品的铅同位素组成进行了准确测定,测定值与溶液值在误差范围内一致.     

激光剥蚀串联电感耦合等离子体质谱在环境分析中的应用进展

激光剥蚀串联电感耦合等离子体质谱法(LA-ICP-MS)是一种功能强大的化学元素检测方法,它具有样品前处理简单、多元素同时测定、高通量、高灵敏度、宽线性范围以及原位分析等优点。同时,激光剥蚀可以与多接收器电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(MC-ICP-MS)串联用于稳定同位素组成测定,不仅避免了繁琐的样品前处理,同时还可应用于固体样品的微区原位同位素分析,揭示微观尺度上稳定同位素组成的变化。LA-ICP-MS已广泛应用于地质、考古等领域,其在环境科学领域应用相对起步较晚,但近年来发展迅速。该文总结了近年来LA-ICP-MS的环境分析方法开发及其在环境科学中的应用进展,并对其未来发展趋势进行了展望。     

地热水锂组分快捷分离纯化及同位素测定

锂是一种战略性矿产资源, 青藏高原蕴藏着富锂地热水, 锂同位素可以用来示踪其物质来源和演化过程。本文采用AG50W-X8阳离子交换树脂对地热水锂组分进行了快捷分离纯化, 建立了利用多接收电感耦合等离子质谱仪(MC-ICP-MS)测定锂同位素的方法。移取适量的地热水样品加热蒸干, 转化成0.20 mol/L HCl溶液后上柱, 继续使用0.20 mol/L HCl纯化锂组分。当洗脱液中Na/Li比值≤1.2且锂的回收率超过99%时, 可以在MC-ICP-MS上直接测定锂同位素比值。应用该方法测定了标准物质L-SVEC、IRMM-016和标准海水IAPSO的δ7Li值, 结果分别为0.01±0.34‰、-0.02±0.46‰和30.75±0.35‰, 与推荐值相符合。利用L-SVEC配制的标准溶液检查了MC-ICP-MS的长期稳定性, 外精度要好于0.4‰ (2σ)。在测定青藏高原地热水样品时, 本方法获得了准确的δ7Li值, 可为青藏高原富锂地热水的成因机制研究提供技术支撑。     

TODGA树脂小柱分离-多接收电感耦合等离子体质谱（MC-ICP-MS）法测定岩石样品中Nd同位素比值

通过改进岩石样品分析物Nd的化学分离,实现Nd同位素比值的准确分析,为研究青藏高原岩石成因,揭示物质来源提供技术支持。采用TODGA萃淋树脂分离基体及其与Nd相邻的稀土元素,多接收电感耦合等离子体质谱（MC-ICP-MS）法测定Nd同位素比值,建立了简捷实用的地质样品Nd同位素分析方法。样品HF-HNO3分解, HNO3(3 mol/L )- H3BO3(0.12 mol/L)提取,上柱后,先用6 mL HCl(2.8 mol/L)淋洗干扰轻稀土,再用6 mL HCl(2.2 mol/L)淋洗分析物Nd,Nd淋洗液由MC-ICP-MS测定其同位素比值。分析国际岩石标准物质BCR-2、BHVO-2和AGV-2,所得143Nd/144Nd同位素比值（平均值 ± 2σ）分别为0.512638 ± 0.0000007、0.512990 ± 0.0000012和0.512792 ± 0.000016,这些同位素数据在误差范围内,与推荐值和文献值完全一致。方法适合各种类型地质样品,为西藏不同地区不同岩石提供了可靠的Nd同位素分析数据。     

多接收等离子质谱高精度测定现代人齿中Mg同位素

Mg是构成牙齿重要组分,其含量和同位素组成可记录居民生活地域、饮食习惯以及口腔健康信息等重要信息.本研究建立了高精度多接收等离子质谱(MC-ICP-MS)测定牙齿中Mg同位素方法.牙齿样品经微波消解仪消解,后采用AG50W-X8阳离子树脂分离溶液中的Mg元素,以1 mol/L HNO3为介质上柱,40 mL1 mol/L HNO3洗脱Na+等杂质离子,再以30 mL 1 mol/L HNO3收集Mg元素,60 mL 1 mol/L HNO3洗去其它杂质,蒸干Mg收集液.MC-ICP-MS进行Mg同位素组成测定.MC-ICP-MS仪器自身的质量分馏利用“样品-标准”交叉技术(“Sample-standard”bracketing technique)解决.实验结果表明,利用AG50W-X8阳离子树脂,可在保证Mg回收率的情况下,将牙齿样品中的Mg和其它基质元素彻底分离,且不造成同位素分馏.采用此方法对现代人离体牙牙釉质中Mg同位素进行分离测定,牙齿的δ25Mg在较大的范围变化(-1.38‰ ～4.59‰).本方法为利用人牙齿中Mg同位素研究Mg的暴露水平、环境污染等信息提供重要的实验和理论依据.     

环境样品的热解-溶液吸收预处理及其汞同位素组成的测定

利用多道接收电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(MC-ICP-MS)可实现汞同位素的高精度测定,但对样品预处理的要求很高。目前,液态、固态、气态环境样品的预处理方式不一,存在一定的系统误差。该研究旨在尽可能统一各状态样品的预处理步骤。先将各样品中的不同形态汞富集转化为固体可吸附态,令其吸附在固态载体上,包括:采用金柱富集气体样品中的气态单质汞;以吹扫-金柱捕集法富集液体样品中的溶解气态汞和总汞;用膜过滤法收集大气中的颗粒态汞。最后以管式炉热解定量固态样品,采用高氧化效率的酸性高锰酸钾混合溶液吸收热解产生的Hg~0并氧化为Hg~(2+),保存于溶液中供MC-ICP-MS测定。优化了气体流速、吸收液体积及高锰酸钾浓度等参数,考察了方法空白、回收率及精密度等指标,并将建立的方法应用于大气气态单质汞、大气颗粒态汞、溶解气态汞、雨水总汞和土壤总汞等样品中汞同位素的分析。     

地质样品中钛的化学分离及双稀释剂法钛同位素测定

建立了玄武岩和橄榄岩样品中钛(Ti)的化学分离方法,特别是对于含低Ti而高Fe和Mg的橄榄岩样品中Ti的化学分离方法进行了探索。实现了通过双稀释剂技术校正的多接收器等离子体质谱(MC-ICP-MS)法测定玄武岩和橄榄岩的Ti同位素组成。玄武岩样品Ti的化学分离采用DGA和AG1-X8两柱法;橄榄岩样品Ti的化学分离采用DGA和AG1-X8三柱法。Ti同位素比值使用MC-ICP-MS测定,测定过程中的仪器质量分馏使用双稀释剂法校正。采用SRM 979 Cr同位素标准物质的~(53)Cr/~(52)Cr=0.11339对Ti同位素标准溶液SRM 3162a和~(47)Ti-~(49)Ti双稀释剂进行标定。而后,测定分别加入了~(47)Ti-~(49)Ti双稀释剂的Alfa Ti相对于SRM 3162a Ti的δ~(i/46)Ti,并用于监控测试过程。使用双稀释剂法测定Alfa Ti的结果为:δ~(49/46)Ti=-1.77‰±0.08‰(2sd),δ~(48/46)Ti=-1.20‰±0.05‰(2sd),δ~(47/46)Ti=-0.61‰±0.03‰(2sd),本方法的外部精度≤0.03‰/amu,优于样品-标样交叉法。     

高精度镉同位素分析样品消解方法对比研究

为考察不同消解方法的优缺点以及对不同基质样品(沉积物和大米)Cd同位素组成的影响,该文采用干法灰化法、酸提取法、微波消解法和高温高压密闭消解法等消解方法对水系沉积物(GSD)进行消解处理,比较了不同消解方法对沉积物Cd同位素组成测定的影响。随后使用微波消解法和高温高压密闭消解法对大米标准物质以及实际大米样品进行了消解。结果表明：高温高压密闭消解法所获得的沉积物Cd同位素测试结果在国内外文献报道的参考值范围内,能够满足同位素测定要求。而使用干法灰化法和酸提取法消解样品时,由于存在元素损失或消解不完全,标准物质Cd元素的回收率偏低(低至72.8%),导致同位素测试结果显著偏离真实值(Δ114/110Cd值最大偏差达0.24‰)。微波消解法处理标准物质Cd元素的回收率在96.6%~98.8%范围内,且同位素测试结果与高温高压密闭消解法结果吻合良好(Δ114/110Cd≤±0.04‰),表明微波消解法可以满足沉积物Cd同位素的测定要求,能够获得准确的Cd同位素组成数据。对大米标准物质和实际大米样品进行消解,所获得的Cd同位素测试结果与上述沉积物样品结果相同(Δ114/110Cd≤±0.04‰),进一步验证了微波消解法的可靠性,证实微波消解法可用于沉积物及植物样品(大米)Cd同位素分析的快速消解。     

Minireview: Advances in Germanium Isotope Analysis by Multiple Collector–Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry

The advent of multiple collector–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) has made the high-precision determination of Ge isotopes possible, which leads to the widespread application of Ge isotopes in earth, ocean, and cosmochemistry fields. This paper reviews the history of Ge isotope analysis, chemical dissolution and purification, and mass spectrometry measurements. Concentrated HNO₃ is sufficient to dissolve nearly all types of samples and HF is also involved for Si-rich samples. Low-temperature ashing prior to dissolution is an alternative way to preconcentrate Ge in organic-rich samples. For different matrices, Ge isotopes can be determined by MC-ICP-MS coupled with a traditional nebulizer system or hydride generation system after two-step separation, one step cation/anion-exchange separation, or Mg/Fe co-precipitation protocols. Ion-exchange column methods are suitable for samples with elevated matrix and Ge content such as sulfides, iron oxides, silicate rocks, and coals, whereas Mg or Fe coprecipitation methods are particularly suitable for all kinds of water. Hydride generation systems are improved over traditional nebulizer system due to the smaller sample quantity and fewer matrix-related interferences. Sample-standard bracketing, double spike, and external Ga isotope normalization are used to mass bias correction and yield consistent results. Analytical methods involving Ge-poor samples and Ge isotope analyses based on different Ge species or specific Ge compound in natural environment will be important prospects in the further study. For further applications of Ge isotopes in mineral deposits such as sulfide and iron oxide deposits, sulfides, and iron oxides reference materials should be developed in the future.     

Calculation methods for direct internal mass fractionation correction of spiked isotopic ratios from multi-collector mass spectrometric measurements

It is difficult to do internal mass fractionation corrections for isotope dilution analysis by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) or multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS), especially for MC-ICP-MS. In this study, calculation methods for direct internal fractionation correction of spiked isotope analysis by TIMS or MC-ICP-MS cycle by cycle for elements having at least two internal reference isotopic ratios are presented. For TIMS, direct internal mass fractionation correction calculation methods, based on both power and exponential laws, are derived; whereas for MC-ICP-MS, due to larger mass fractionation effects, only exponential law is considered. These calculation strategies can be applied for both static and multi-dynamic measurements. For multi-dynamic measurements, the isotope fractionation effect, gain and cup efficiency effects of different collectors, as well as ion beam fluctuation effects are all simultaneously eliminated. The calculation methods were verified by Sr isotopic analyses of spiked NBS987 standard solutions by TIMS and Hf isotopic analyses of spiked geological reference materials by MC-ICP-MS. In addition, precise and accurate calibrations of isotopic ratios of the spikes, based on the calculation methods, are discussed.     

Development of routines for simultaneous in situ chemical composition and stable Si isotope ratio analysis by femtosecond laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Stable metal (e.g. Li, Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mo) and metalloid (B, Si, Ge) isotope ratio systems have emerged as geochemical tracers to fingerprint distinct physicochemical reactions. These systems are relevant to many Earth Science questions. The benefit of in situ microscale analysis using laser ablation (LA) over bulk sample analysis is to use the spatial context of different phases in the solid sample to disclose the processes that govern their chemical and isotopic compositions. However, there is a lack of in situ analytical routines to obtain a samples' stable isotope ratio together with its chemical composition. Here, we evaluate two novel analytical routines for the simultaneous determination of the chemical and Si stable isotope composition (δ³⁰Si) on the micrometre scale in geological samples. In both routines, multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) is combined with femtosecond-LA, where stable isotope ratios are corrected for mass bias using standard-sample-bracketing with matrix-independent calibration. The first method is based on laser ablation split stream (LASS), where the laser aerosol is split and introduced simultaneously into both the MC-ICP-MS and a quadrupole ICP-MS. The second method is based on optical emission spectroscopy using direct observation of the MC-ICP-MS plasma (LA-MC-ICP-MS|OES). Both methods are evaluated using international geological reference materials. Accurate and precise Si isotope ratios were obtained with an uncertainty typically better than 0.23‰, 2SD, δ³⁰Si. With both methods major element concentrations (e.g., Na, Al, Si, Mg, Ca) can be simultaneously determined. However, LASS-ICP-MS is superior over LA-MC-ICP-MS|OES, which is limited by its lower sensitivity. Moreover, LASS-ICP-MS offers trace element analysis down to the μg g⁻¹-range for more than 28 elements due to lower limits of detection, and with typical uncertainties better than 15%. For in situ simultaneous stable isotope measurement and chemical composition analysis LASS-ICP-MS in combination with MC-ICP-MS is the method of choice.     

Accurate and precise lithium isotopic determinations of igneous rock samples using multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A second-generation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) was applied to lithium isotopic measurements. The high sensitivity of the ICP-MS enabled high precision (±0.82‰, 2σ) analyses with small amount of Li (∼45 ng Li). A single-step column separation protocol was established with which rapid purification of lithium from rock solutions can be carried out with reduced blank (<10 pg). The influence of potential sources of error for acquisition of lithium isotopic data introduced during the separation, such as matrix effects and isotopic fractionation due to incomplete recovery, were examined with an artificially mixed solution of a composition similar to that of basalt, which was doped with Li isotopic standard reagent. The examinations demonstrated that our protocol suffered from negligible isotopic fractionation.The Li isotopic ratios obtained by our method for seawater and standard rocks (JA-1, JB-2, and JB-3) agree well with those of previously reported data by Moriguti and Nakamura [1] and [2], which were determined using a four-step column separation method and thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS). Our separation protocol combined with a sensitive MC-ICP-MS will enable Li isotopic analyses on silicate rock with low Li contents, such as meteorite and peridotites with increased sample throughput.     

Boron Determination—A Review of Analytical Methods

This paper reviews published methods of sample preparation, determinand purification, and the determination of boron concentration and isotopic composition in a sample. The most common methods for the determination of B concentration are spectrophotometric and plasma-source spectrometric methods. Although most spectrophotometric methods are based on colorimetric reactions of B with azomethine-H, curcumin, or carmine, other colorimetric and fluorometric methods have also been used to some extent. These methods, in general, suffer from numerous interferences and have low sensitivity and precision. Application of nuclear reaction and atomic emission/absorption spectrometric (AES/AAS) methods has remained limited because these methods have poor sensitivity and suffer from serious memory effects and interferences. Among a large number of published nuclear reaction methods only prompt-γ spectrometry has been of practical use. The prompt-γ method can determine B concentration in intact samples, which makes this method especially useful for some medical applications, including boron neutron capture therapy. However, this is a time-consuming method and not suitable for detection of low levels of B. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) created a new dimension in B determination because of its simplicity, sensitivity, and multielement capability. However, it suffers interferences and is not adequately sensitive for some nutritional and medical applications involving animal tissues that are naturally low in B. All methods involving the measurement of B isotopic composition require a mass spectrometer. Thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) have been used to measure isotopic composition of B; however, these methods are time consuming and require extensive sample preparation and purification. Development of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) not only overcame most of the drawbacks of earlier methods, but also its capabiltiy of measuring B isotopes made possible (1) B concentration determination by isotope dilution, (2) verification of B concentration by isotope fingerprinting in routine analysis, and (3) determination of total B concentration and B isotope ratio for biological tracer studies in the same run. Therefore, plasma source MS appears to be the method of choice among present-day technologies.     

Determination of isotope ratios of metals (and metalloids) by means of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry for provenancing purposes — A review

Since considerable time, isotopic analysis of different elements present in a sample, material or object (such as the ‘light’ elements H, C, N, O and S and ‘heavy’ elements, such as Sr and Pb), has been used in provenancing studies, as several factors — defined by “the environment” or origin of the sample — can lead to measurable differences in their isotopic composition. For the light elements, traditionally, (gas source) isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IR-MS) is used, while for a long period of time, thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) was considered as the only technique capable of detecting subtle variations in the isotopic composition of the ‘heavier’ elements. However, since the introduction of the first inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers (ICP-MS), considerable attention has been devoted to the development of methodologies and strategies to perform isotopic analysis by means of ICP-MS. While the relatively modest isotope ratio precision offered by single-collector ICP-MS may already be fit-for-purpose under some circumstances, especially the introduction of multi-collector ICP-MS instruments, equipped with an array of Faraday detectors instead of a single electron multiplier, has lead to tremendous improvements in the field of isotopic analysis. As a result, MC-ICP-MS can be seen as a very strong competitor of TIMS nowadays, while it even provides information on the small isotopic variations shown by some elements, that are not or hardly accessible by means of TIMS (e.g., elements with a high ionization energy). Owing to these new instrumental developments, the application field of isotopic analysis by means of ICP-MS is continuously growing, also in the field of provenance determination. This paper is intended as a review of the developments in and the recent applications of isotopic analysis by means of ICP-MS in this specific research field.     

High-precision direct determination of the Sr/Sr isotope ratio of bottled Sr-rich natural mineral drinking water using multiple collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

We describe a precise and accurate method for the direct determination of the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope ratio of bottled Sr-rich natural mineral drinking water using multiple collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). The method is validated by the comparative analysis of the same water with and without cation-exchange resin purification. The work indicates that isobarically interfering elements can be corrected for when ⁸⁷Rb/⁸⁶Sr < 0.05 (Rb/Sr < 0.015), and that the matrix elements (Ca, Mg, K and Na) have no significant effect on the accuracy of the Sr isotope data. The method is simple, rapid, eliminates sample preparation time, and avoids potential contamination during complicated sample-preparation procedures. Therefore, the high sample throughput inherent to the MC-ICP-MS can be fully exploited.     

Quantification of 60Fe atoms by MC-ICP-MS for the redetermination of the half-life

In many scientific fields, the half-life of radionuclides plays an important role. The accurate knowledge of this parameter has direct impact on, e.g., age determination of archeological artifacts and of the elemental synthesis in the universe. In order to derive the half-life of a long-lived radionuclide, the activity and the absolute number of atoms have to be analyzed. Whereas conventional radiation measurement methods are typically applied for activity determinations, the latter can be determined with high accuracy by mass spectrometric techniques. Over the past years, the half-lives of several radionuclides have been specified by means of multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) complementary to the earlier reported values mainly derived by accelerator mass spectrometry. The present paper discusses all critical aspects (amount of material, radiochemical sample preparation, interference correction, isotope dilution mass spectrometry, calculation of measurement uncertainty) for a precise analysis of the number of atoms by MC-ICP-MS exemplified for the recently published half-life determination of $^{60}$ Fe (Rugel et al, Phys Rev Lett 103:072502, 2009).