Mass spectrometry of long-lived radionuclides

The capability of determining element concentrations at the trace and ultratrace level and isotope ratios is a main feature of inorganic mass spectrometry. The precise and accurate determination of isotope ratios of long-lived natural and artificial radionuclides is required, e.g. for their environmental monitoring and health control, for studying radionuclide migration, for age dating, for determining isotope ratios of radiogenic elements in the nuclear industry, for quality assurance and determination of the burn-up of fuel material in a nuclear power plant, for reprocessing plants, nuclear material accounting and radioactive waste control. Inorganic mass spectrometry, especially inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) as the most important inorganic mass spectrometric technique today, possesses excellent sensitivity, precision and good accuracy for isotope ratio measurements and practically no restriction with respect to the ionization potential of the element investigated—therefore, thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), which has been used as the dominant analytical technique for precise isotope ratio measurements of long-lived radionuclides for many decades, is being replaced increasingly by ICP-MS. In the last few years instrumental progress in improving figures of merit for the determination of isotope ratio measurements of long-lived radionuclides in ICP-MS has been achieved by the application of a multiple ion collector device (MC-ICP-MS) and the introduction of the collision cell interface in order to dissociate disturbing argon-based molecular ions, to reduce the kinetic energy of ions and neutralize the disturbing noble gas ions (e.g. of ¹²⁹Xe⁺ for the determination of ¹²⁹I). The review describes the state of the art and the progress of different inorganic mass spectrometric techniques such as ICP-MS, laser ablation ICP-MS vs. TIMS, glow discharge mass spectrometry, secondary ion mass spectrometry, resonance ionization mass spectrometry and accelerator mass spectrometry for the determination of long-lived radionuclides in quite different materials.     

Application of enriched stable isotopes as tracers in biological systems: a critical review

The application of enriched stable isotopes of minerals and trace elements as tracers in biological systems is a rapidly growing research field that benefits from the many new developments in inorganic mass spectrometric instrumentation, primarily within inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) instrumentation, such as reaction/collision cell ICP-MS and multicollector ICP-MS with improved isotope ratio measurement and interference removal capabilities. Adaptation and refinement of radioisotope tracer experiment methodologies for enriched stable isotope experiments, and the development of new methodologies coupled with more advanced compartmental and mathematical models for the distribution of elements in living organisms has enabled a broader use of enriched stable isotope experiments in the biological sciences. This review discusses the current and future uses of enriched stable isotope experiments in biological systems.     

Comparing the precision of selenium isotope ratio measurements using collision cell and sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The performance of two different types of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) instruments for resolving spectral overlaps on Se isotopes was compared by means of selenium isotopic ratio measurements. Examined were a quadrupole-based, hexapole collisions cell CC-ICP-MS and a double-focusing sector field SF-ICP-MS. Due to the importance of precise and accurate isotope ratio determination in environmental, clinical and nutritional studies, a thorough investigation of the critical instrumental parameters of each technique was performed. A hydride generation system was coupled with SF-ICP-MS to maintain high signal-to-noise ratios (S/N) at high mass resolution. However, 80Se+ was not completely separated from the argon dimer (40)Ar2+ at m/z=80, even in high-resolution mode. The same hydride generation system was coupled to a collision cell instrument and it was found that argon dimers are significantly reduced using a mixture of H2 and He gas with the cell. A lower mass bias of 2.5% per amu was determined for measured Se isotopes using the SF-ICP-MS instrument compared 3.6% observed for the CC-ICP-MS instrument. Under optimized conditions, the precision for Se isotope ratio measurements of both instruments was evaluated and compared measuring NIST-3149 Se standard solution. On average, the uncertainty determined by repeated measurements over the span of three individual measuring sessions in a period of 3 weeks ranged from 0.06% to 0.15% and 0.09% to 0.30% R.S.D. for the various isotope ratios using the CC-ICP-MS and SF-ICP-MS instrument, respectively. The detection limits (3) for total Se were determined by measuring 82Se and found to be 1.7 and 4.0 ng L(-1) for the CC-ICP-MS and SF-ICP-MS, respectively.     

A comparison of double-focusing sector field ICP-MS, ICP-OES and octopole collision cell ICP-MS for the high-accuracy determination of calcium in human serum

Human serum is routinely measured for total calcium content in clinical studies. A definitive high-accuracy and low-uncertainty method is required for reference measurements to underpin medical diagnoses. This study presents a novel octopole collision cell ICP-MS, high-accuracy, methodology and comparison of that technique with double-focusing sector field ICP-MS and an ICP-OES method. Double-matched isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) was employed for ICP-MS techniques and an exact matching bracketing technique using scandium as an internal standard was used for ICP-OES analysis. Medium resolution mode was utilised for double-focusing sector field ICP-MS analysis to resolve the dominant interferences on the ⁴⁴Ca/⁴²Ca isotope pair. Hydrogen reaction gas was employed to chemically resolve a number of polyatomic interferences predominantly through charge transfer reactions in the octopole collision cell. Comparison data presented for NIST CRM 909b human serum analysis from all three techniques demonstrates highest accuracy (99.6%) and lowest uncertainty (1.1%) for octopole collision cell ICP-MS. Data from ICP-OES using a non-IDMS technique produces comparably accurate data and low-uncertainties. The much higher total expanded uncertainties for double-focusing sector field ICP-MS compared with octopole collision cell data are explained by lower precision on the measurement of the ⁴⁴Ca/⁴²Ca isotope ratio. Data for octopole collision cell ICP-MS submitted for an international blind trial comparison (CCQM K-14) demonstrated excellent agreement with the mean of all participants with a low expanded uncertainty.     

On the application of ICP-MS techniques for measuring uranium and plutonium: a Nordic inter-laboratory comparison exercise

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) techniques are widely used for determination of long-lived radionuclides and their isotopic ratios in the nuclear fields. Uranium (U) and Plutonium (Pu) isotopes have been determined by many researchers with ICP-MS due to its relatively high sensitivity and short measurement time. In this work, an inter-laboratory comparison exercise among the Nordic countries was performed, focusing on the measurement of U and Pu isotopes in certified reference materials by ICP-MS. The performance and characters of different ICP-MS instruments are evaluated and discussed in this paper.     

Measuring magnesium,calcium and potassium isotope ratios using ICP-QMS with an octopole collision cell in tracer studies of nutrient uptake and translocation in plants

The ability of a quadrupole-based ICP-MS with an octopole collision cell to obtain precise and accurate measurements of isotope ratios of magnesium, calcium and potassium was evaluated. Hydrogen and helium were used as collision/reaction gases for ICP-MS isotope ratio measurements of calcium and potassium in order to avoid isobaric interference with the analyte ions from (mainly) argon ions ⁴⁰Ar⁺ and argon hydride ions ⁴⁰Ar¹H⁺. Mass discrimination factors determined for the isotope ratios ²⁵Mg/²⁴Mg, ⁴⁰Ca/⁴⁴Ca and ³⁹K/⁴¹K under optimized experimental conditions varied between 0.044 and 0.075. The measurement precisions for ²⁵Mg/²⁴Mg, ⁴⁰Ca/⁴⁴Ca and ³⁹K/⁴¹K were found to be 0.09%, 0.43% and 1.4%, respectively. This analytical method that uses ICP-QMS with a collision cell to obtain isotope ratio measurements of magnesium, calcium and potassium was used in routine mode to characterize biological samples (nutrient solution and small amounts of digested plant samples). The mass spectrometric technique was employed to study the dynamics of nutrient uptake and translocation in barley plants at different root temperatures (10 °C and 20 °C) using enriched stable isotopes (²⁵Mg, ⁴⁴Ca and ⁴¹K) as tracers. For instance, the mass spectrometric results of tracer experiments demonstrated enhanced ²⁵Mg and ⁴⁴Ca uptake and translocation into shoots at a root temperature of 20 °C 24 h after isotope spiking. In contrast, results obtained from ⁴¹K tracer experiments showed the highest ⁴¹K contents in plants spiked at a root temperature of 10 °C.     

Precise determination of Pu isotopes in a seawater reference material using ID-SF-ICP-MS combined with two-stage anion-exchange chromatography.

In order to obtain the precise Pu isotope composition of Irish Sea water reference material issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA-381), we analyzed the activities of (239)Pu, (240)Pu and the atom ratio of (240)Pu/(239)Pu by a highly sensitive isotope dilution SF-ICP-MS method combined with two-stage chromatographic separation and purification. With a mean chemical yield of 65% for (242)Pu tracer, the experimentally established values for (239)Pu, (240)Pu and (239+240)Pu activities are in good agreement with the certified ones. For the (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratio, we obtain a value of 0.2315 +/- 0.0008 with a high precision (RSD, 0.35%), which is much more precise than the information value of 0.22 +/- 0.03 (RSD, 13.6%) provided by the IAEA certification report. The precise determination of Pu isotopes in this seawater reference material will be useful for the validation of analytical methods for the study of radionuclides in the marine environment.     

Determination of 206/207Pb isotope ratios by ICP-MS in particulate matter from the north sea environment

Summary The determination of lead isotope ratios can be used for source and pathway characterization of lead in the environment. The suitability of inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was evaluated for the measurement of ^206/207Pb isotope ratios in several marine compartments as marine aerosols from different source regions and suspended particulate matter from the North Sea. Two different ICP-MS systems were used to carry out these investigations. First optimization studies have been performed to yield a sufficient precision (RSD <0.5%) in combination with a reasonable measuring time. This study has been carried out using the standard reference material NBS 981 with certified lead isotope ratios. Furthermore, it could be shown for marine environmental samples, that a precision of less than 0.5% RSD is attainable for counting rates of above approximately 50000 cps. As the following measurements of lead isotope ratios in marine aerosols from main source regions surrounding the North Sea demonstrated, this precision is sufficient to determine significant differences due to the origin of atmospheric lead. The analysis of aerosol samples revealed isotope ratios varying from as low as 1.10, which is close to that ratio for leaded gasoline in Europe to near background (modern lead) values of 1.20. The lead isotope ratios for the investigated suspended particulate matter ranges between 1.13 and 1.18. These values can be related to the solid discharge, the urban density and anthropogenic activity of the drainage basin.     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定硼同位素丰度

以硼同位素标准物质NIST SRM 951配制标准溶液,在优化的仪器操作条件下对电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)测定的硼同位素质量进行校正,求出校正因子,确定了样品的线性浓度范围,选定样品浓度为1.1 mg/L。在同样的仪器条件下首先测定了硼标准物质的硼同位素丰度比,测量误差为0.2%,然后测定了硼同位素浓缩过程中硼样品的硼同位素丰度比,测定结果的相对标准偏差为1.1%。此外考察了仪器的稳定性。实验结果表明本方法“记忆效应”小,结果可靠,测量精度高。     

The determination of lead in blood using isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ID-ICP-MS) was applied to the certification of Pb in four levels of NIST blood SRM, 955a. This standard reference material (SRM) represents a significant improvement over the previous blood reference material and will greatly aid method development. The lowest level, 47.76 ng/g Pb was determined with analysis uncertainty (95% CI, ID-ICP-MS uncertainties) of less than 1% and the highest level, 517.9 ng/g Pb to 0.3%. Uncertainty in the lowest level was due to sample inhomogeneity and variability in the analytical blank as the RSD on ratio measurements was typically better than 0.2%. Properly applied isotope dilution coupled with careful isotope ratio measurements on the ICP-MS offers precision and accuracy for blood Pb analyses beyond what is currently obtainable with routine methods.     

Analytical plasma source mass spectrometry in biomedical research

The features of inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) that make it unique also make possible applications in biological chemistry and biomedical research that would be otherwise difficult or impossible. High sensitivity, characterized spectral interferences, rapid mass scanning, and individual isotope measurements are now combined with sophisticated sample preparation, separations, or stable isotope additions to achieve rapid semi-quantitative analysis, element speciation, and high accuracy. The semi-quantitative analysis of various materials, the separation and detection of macromolecules in blood and other tissues, and tracking of stable isotopes added either purposely or inadvertently to children are important applications of ICP-MS. Current functional limitations and obstacles and potential development areas also are examined.     

Detection of99Tc by accelerator mass spectrometry: Preliminary investigations

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is an established technique for the detection of long-lived radionuclides at environmental levels. At LLNL, planned facility upgrades and advances in detection techniques are allowing us to explore the applicability of AMS to isotopes not previously pursued. One such isotope is⁹⁹Tc. We have performed a number of preliminary tests to examine the technical feasibility of AMS for the detection of⁹⁹Tc. The questions addressed were negative ion production in the cesium sputter source, transport efficiency for the ions through the spectrometer, and detection efficiency for⁹⁹Tc ions after the spectrometer. Based on the positive results of these tests, we have begun to develo measurement protocol.     

Inductively coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometry with a high-efficiency sample introduction system for the determination of Pu isotopes in settling particles at femtogram levels

An analytical method for the determination of plutonium concentration and its isotope ratio (²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu) for settling particle samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is presented. The generally used approach for Pu preconcentration by increasing the amount of samples is not applicable because of the small size of settling particle samples available for the analysis for Pu isotopes. Efforts were made to improve the sensitivity of a sector-field ICP-MS (SF-ICP-MS) and reduce the ²³⁸UH⁺ interference for Pu analysis by combining a high-efficiency sample introduction system (APEX-Q). An extremely low detection limit of 0.07 fg Pu was achieved, which allowed the determination of Pu isotope ratio at femtogram levels. The precision and accuracy of ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu isotope ratio analysis were carefully examined with a certified Pu isotope standard (NBS-947) and an ocean sediment reference material (IAEA-368). Simple anion-exchange chromatography for the separation and purification of Pu was combined with the APEX-Q/SF-ICP-MS system to determine Pu isotopes in settling particles collected in the East China Sea continental margin. The obtained results supported a previous observation on the lateral transport of Pu containing particles in this continental margin.     

Copper determination using ICP-MS with hexapole collision cell

Determination of copper using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) suffers from polyatomic overlays originating from Na⁺ and Mg²⁺ matrix elements due to the formation of ⁴⁰Ar²³Na⁺ and ⁴⁰Ar²⁵Mg⁺ in the mass-to-charge ratios of 63 and 65, respectively. The collision/reaction cell technology belongs to the most modern methods used to overcome polyatomic interferences. Gas-filled collision/reaction cell can cause an additional mass bias effect influencing analytical precision of the method. In this study, the additional mass bias effect of the hexapole collision/reaction cell ICP-MS was studied on an example of n(⁶⁵Cu)/n(⁶³Cu) isotope ratio. As a result, a method for suppressing polyatomic interference on the mass-to-charge ratio of 63 and 65 was introduced and additional mass bias of the collision/reaction cell was lowered to an acceptable level.     

Overcoming spectral overlap in isotopic analysis via single- and multi-collector ICP–mass spectrometry

For isotope ratio applications where an internal isotope ratio precision >0.05–0.1% relative standard deviation suffices, single-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) is fit-for-purpose, but for detecting more subtle variations in the natural isotopic composition of a target element, only multi-collector ICPMS (MC-ICPMS) can compete with thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). While as a result of the extensive sample preparation (analyte isolation) preceding TIMS and the "softer" ionization in vacuum, spectral interferences only seldom occur with this technique, their occurrence is recognized to be the most important drawback of ICPMS. This paper discusses high mass resolution and chemical resolution in a collision or dynamic reaction cell as powerful and versatile means to overcome spectral overlap and illustrates how their introduction has led to a substantial extension of the application range of ICPMS for isotope ratio applications. High mass resolution is the most elegant and straightforward way to overcome the problem of spectral overlap. Offering the possibility to operate the mass analyzer at a higher mass resolution, while at the same time preserving the flat-topped or trapezoidal peak shape required for highly precise isotope ratio measurements, was a challenge for the manufacturers of MC-ICPMS instrumentation. It will be discussed how these apparently contradicting requirements could be fulfilled simultaneously and an overview of the current situation will be given. Chemical resolution in a collision or dynamic reaction cell is an alternative to high mass resolution for overcoming spectral overlap. Real-life examples will be given to illustrate how also this approach can be used to advantage in isotope ratio work. Despite the greater flexibility and straightforwardness of high mass resolution, some situations will be discussed where chemical resolution is to be preferred. Finally, some desires as to future instrumentation are formulated.     

Determination of rubidium by isotope dilution—inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry as an alternative to thermal ionization mass spectrometry

The combined techniques of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and isotope dilution yield as much as a three-fold improvement in precision for trace-level rubidium determinations in geological materials over conventional isotope dilution using thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). Rubidium determinations by TIMS, precise to 0.6% (1 s.d.), are hindered by uncorrectable fractionation effects, whereas fractionation can be monitored during ICP-MS determinations, providing results as precise as 0.17% (1 s.d.). Precise rubidium data are critical for high-precision RbSr geochronology.     

Investigation on elemental and isotopic fractionation during 196 nm femtosecond laser ablation multiple collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Despite the large number of successful applications of laser ablation, elemental and isotopic fractionation coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) remain as the main limitations for many applications of this technique in the fields of analytical chemistry and Earth Sciences. A substantial effort has been made to control such fractionations, which are well-established features of nanosecond laser ablation systems. Technological advancements made over the past decade now allow the ablation of solids by femtosecond laser pulses in the deep ultraviolet (UV) region at wavelengths less than 200 nm. Here the use of femtosecond laser ablation and its effects on elemental and isotopic fractionation is investigated. The Pb/U system is used to illustrate elemental fractionation and stable Fe isotopes are used to illustrate isotopic fractionation. No elemental fractionation is observed beyond the precision of the multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) measurements. Without a matrix match between standard and sample, elemental fractionation is absent even when using different laser ablation protocols for standardization and samples (spot versus raster). Furthermore, we found that laser ablation-induced isotope ratio drifts, commonly observed during nanosecond laser ablation, are undetectable during ultraviolet femtosecond laser ablation. So far the precision obtained for Fe isotope ratio determinations is 0.1‰ (2 standard deviation) for the ⁵⁶Fe/⁵⁴Fe ratio. This is close to that obtainable by solution multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The accuracy of the results appears to be independent of the matrix used for standardization. The resulting smaller particle sizes reduce fractionation processes. Femtosecond laser ablation carries the potential to solve some of the difficulties encountered during the two prior decades since the introduction of laser ablation.     

Analytical plasma source mass spectrometry in biomedical research

The features of inductively coupled plasma– mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) that make it unique also make possible applications in biological chemistry and biomedical research that would be otherwise difficult or impossible. High sensitivity, characterized spectral interferences, rapid mass scanning, and individual isotope measurements are now combined with sophisticated sample preparation, separations, or stable isotope additions to achieve rapid semi-quantitative analysis, element speciation, and high accuracy. The semi-quantitative analysis of various materials, the separation and detection of macromolecules in blood and other tissues, and tracking of stable isotopes added either purposely or inadvertently to children are important applications of ICP-MS. Current functional limitations and obstacles and potential development areas also are examined.     

毛细管电泳-电感耦合等离子质谱联用的接口设计

描述了毛细管电泳电感耦合等离子体质谱(CE-ICP-MS)联用技术的单T型接口,自行设计了双T型接口,并对两接口的分析性能作了比较。解决了接口中的常见问题,使用节流阀减小自吸作用并降低了CE分离物的稀释倍数,排气阀使提升量保持稳定。经考察得知,采用自吸作用提升液流流量稳定,其重现性RSD小于5％;双T型接口较单T型接口对CE分离更有利。采用双T型接口联用时,CE分离La、Ce、Nd混合离子迁移时间RSD小于2％,MS信号RSD小于15％,且不同浓度样品经CE分离后其MS信号基本呈线性关系。     

Study of the size-based environmental availability of metals associated to natural organic matter by stable isotope exchange and quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry coupled to asymmetrical flow field flow fractionation

The determination of the isotopically exchangeable fraction of metals in environmental solid samples (soils, composts, sediments, sludges, etc.) is used to know the amount of metal potentially available (E-value). Stable isotopes can be used for determination of E-values through the analysis of the aqueous phases from spiked suspensions. However, the presence of isotopically non-exchangeable metal forms in the aqueous phase led to overestimation of the E-values. In this paper, a method for monitoring the degree of isotopic exchange in function of the molecular mass and/or size of the metal form has been developed based on the direct coupling of asymmetrical flow field flow fractionation (AsFlFFF) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for on-line isotope ratio measurements. ICP-MS data acquisition parameters were stressed to avoid degradation of isotope ratio precision. Two sets of fractionation conditions were selected: a colloids separation, which allowed the separation of substances up to 1 μm, and a macromolecules separation, designed to resolve small size substances up to 50 kDa. The methodology was applied to study the environmental availability of copper and lead in compost samples, where metals are mainly associated to different forms of organic matter. No significant differences on isotopic exchange were observed over the size range studied, validating the E-values determined by direct analysis of the aqueous phases.