Iolite软件和基体归一化100%(m/m)定量校准策略处理激光剥蚀-电感耦合等离子体质谱元素含量信号

Iolite软件具有数据处理能力强、可视化效果好和计算代码开源等优点,近年来受到国内外LA-ICPMS实验室广泛关注。本研究探究了Iolite软件处理LA-ICP-MS元素含量信号时的应用情况,并撰写了基体归一化100%(m/m)计算代码。采用Iolite软件对仪器信号漂移校正时,发现平滑插值要优于线性插值。采用基体归一化100%(m/m)代码校准得到的BCR-2G结果显示,绝大多数元素与推荐值匹配,表明此代码是可行和可靠的。不同的外标校准物质所得的结果有差别,NIST SRM 610作外标校准物质时,BCR-2G的TiO_2、MgO、K_2O和稀土元素分析结果有5%~10%偏差。St Hs6/80-G作外标校准物质时,Cr和Mo分析结果偏高10%~30%,这可能与基体效应或校准物质推荐值不确定度有关。合成不确定度的3个主要来源分别为校准物质测定元素推荐值不确定度、样品元素信号比值和基体归一化误差。基于Iolite软件和基体归一化100%(m/m)代码,定量校准了CGSG-1、CGSG-2、CGSG-4、CGSG-5中的50种元素,主量元素(除Mn、Ca和P外)与推荐值的偏差在5%以内,微量元素(除Cr、Ni、Zn、Ga、Mo和Sb外)与推荐值的偏差小于10%,这些数据可为CGSG标准物质实验室联合定值提供数据支撑。所撰写的基体归一化代码拓宽了Iolite软件在处理LA-ICPMS信号时的应用范围。     

193nm ArF准分子激光剥蚀系统高空间分辨率下元素分馏研究

研究了193 nm ArF准分子激光剥蚀系统高空间分辨率下的仪器检出限、ICP质量负载元素分馏、剥蚀深度/束斑直径元素分馏以及基体效应,并在10 μm束斑直径下分析了GSD-1G、StHs6/80-G和NIST612中的微量元素.结果表明,仪器检出限随束斑直径的减小而升高,当束斑直径降低至7 μm时,部分微量元素的仪器检出限为1～10 μg/g.ICP质量负载元素分馏指数与元素第一电离能呈正相关和元素氧化物熔点呈负相关.当剥蚀深度与束斑直径比小于1∶1时,由剥蚀深度/束斑直径引起的元素分馏效应可以忽略不计.基体效应研究表明,50 μm与10 μm激光束斑下基体效应没有明显的差别.以NIST610为校准物质,Ca为内标元素,10 μm束斑直径下GSD-1G、StHs6/80-G和NIST612中的36种微量元素分析结果与定值基本吻合,分析结果与定值基本匹配.综合考虑在10 μm的空间分辨率下,该技术可满足准确分析微量元素的要求.     

玻璃标样结合硫内标归一定量技术在激光剥蚀-等离子体质谱分析硫化物矿物中的应用

以硬石膏矿物标样中Ca相对于S的灵敏度因子为基准,将玻璃标样中主量和痕量元素相对于Ca的灵敏度因子转换成元素相对于S的灵敏度因子,建立了多玻璃标样结合硫内标归一定量技术分析硫化物单矿物多元素的新方法。利用本方法分析了美国合成多金属硫化物矿物标样MASS-1中20种元素,主量元素分析结果的相对误差小于10%,痕量元素分析结果几乎都落在给定值±不确定度范围内。利用本方法对12个硫化物单矿物分析结果表明,绝大多数主量元素含量测定值的相对误差小于10%,且多数主量元素甚至优于以MASS-1为外标、内标归一定量法及内标校准法分析结果,而痕量元素与MASS-1校准结果较为一致。本方法克服了基体不匹配的问题,能比较准确地定量分析硫化物矿物中的主成分S,可用于定量校准硫化物矿物。     

双气流路-激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱测定铅同位素比值

采用双气流路校正-激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱测定了地质样品中Pb同位素比值,并通过201Hg和指数法则分别校正分析过程中的同量异位素干扰和质量偏移。实验结果表明,采用双气流校正系统可明显提高Pb信号强度,且当干、湿气溶胶流速比为1时铅的信号强度最大。将该方法用于地质标准物质NIST610和BCR-2G测定,分析结果与参考值符合,相对标准偏差RSD在1%以内(n=8)。     

193nmArF准分子激光剥蚀-等离子体质谱测定富钴结壳中的稀土元素

采用193nm ArF准分子(Excimer)激光剥蚀ICP—MS测定了富钴结壳中痕量稀土元素。比较了^27Al、^49Ti作为内标元素时稀土元素的LA—ICP—MS分析信号的响应行为。结果表明,^27Al与稀土元素具有相似的激光剥蚀行为以及等离子体激发、电离特征;以Al为内标元素,NIST610玻璃标准为外标,可有效抑制基体效应和灵敏度漂移的影响。方法的检出限为1．2～15．8ng／g,用于标准参考物质中稀土元素的测定,测定结果的相对标准偏差(n=5)在2．2％～6．4%,测定值与标准参考值的相对误差小于6．5％。     

基体归一定量技术在激光烧蚀-等离子体质谱法锆石原位多元素分析中的应用

探讨了内标法和基体归一法校准的基本原理。基体归一校准法的基本步骤为:先用简单外标法测得样品中尽可能全的主、次、痕量元素含量,氧化物加和后进行100%归一,得到灵敏度校正系数,对所有元素的测定结果进行修正。修正结果的可靠性在很大程度上取决于测定元素是否"完全"。由于锆石的基体元素组成简单且易于测定,很适合用基体归一法校准。在激光剥蚀-电感耦合等离子体质谱法(LA-ICP-MS)微区原位分析中,应用基体归一校准法的最大优点是:可以避免预先用其它微区分析技术对未知样品中的内标元素进行定量。该技术可适用于具有环带结构、难以找到均匀分布的内标元素的地质样品的元素空间分布测定。在高分辨ICP-MS(Element2)和NewWave-UV-213激光系统上,应用基体归一定量技术同时分析了锆石中主、次、痕量共54种元素。对未知锆石样品的分析,基体归一法与内标法结果的一致性令人满意。分析德国蛇纹岩标准玻璃ATHO-G中相对误差<25%的有52个元素,<10%的有36个元素;大多数元素的相对标准偏差<10%。     

低温封接玻璃成分分析标准物质的研制

研制了低温封接玻璃成分分析标准物质,对标准物质的制备技术进行了研究。分别用F检验和t检验法对研制的标准物质进行了均匀性和稳定性检验,结果表明,研制的低温封接玻璃标准物质具有良好的均匀性和稳定性。采用6家实验室进行协作定值,对定值结果的不确定度进行了评定。各组分定值结果的相对扩展不确定度均小于5%(k=2)。     

GC–MS校准用异辛烷中八氟萘标准溶液的研制

采用重量–容量法研制了气相色谱–质谱(GC–MS)校准用100.1 pg/μL异辛烷中八氟萘溶液标准物质,分别用F检验和回归曲线法对研制的溶液标准物质进行了均匀性和稳定性检验,对定值结果的不确定度进行了评定。结果表明,研制的异辛烷中八氟萘溶液标准物质具有良好的均匀性和稳定性,定值结果的相对扩展不确定度为3%(k=2)。该标准物质可用于GC–MS联用仪的EI源及负CI源的信噪比校准。     

激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱快速分析水系沉积物主量及痕量元素

基于193 nm ArF准分子激光器与四级杆电感耦合等离子体质谱联用,我们描述了固体样品分析中定量校准的基本原理,提出了一个简单,快速、同时分析水系沉积物中主量及痕量元素的方法:无内标校准法.分析了水系沉积物中主、痕量共52种元素.对水系沉积物标准参考物质GSD-4的分析,结果与推荐值具有良好的一致性,相对误差<15%的有46个元素,<10%的有36个元素;大多数元素的相对标准偏差<10%.结果表明,运用多个外标和无内标校准法,能够对水系沉积物样品进行多元素快速、同时分析,分析结果的准确度优于传统的外标-内标结合校准法.     

用于研究ICP-MS中基体效应的逐级稀释法

用逐级稀释法研究了ICP-MS测定痕量稀土时的基体效应,并将该法对高纯稀土、土壤和生物等样品的实验结果与常用的加入基体法的结果进行了比较.结果表明,两种方法所得出的基体最大允许浓度值相近.与常规的基体效应研究方法相比,逐级稀释法操作简便、易行,无须使用任何高纯物质作基体,且适用于任何化学组成复杂的试样体系,在实际分析中具有应用价值.为了验证该方法的可靠性,对含不同基体的标准试样中的痕量稀土进行了测定,所得实验数据表明,测定值与参考值一致.     

Iolite Based Bulk Normalization as 100% (m/m) Quantification Strategy for Reduction of Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry Transient Signal

Iolite package draw more attention in laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) community in recent years due to its powerful data-handling capacity, excellent signal visualization and open source of calculation codes. In this study, the application of Iolite package was investigated for LA-ICP-MS elemental quantification, and a calculation code for the bulk normalization as 100% (m/m) strategy was compiled. We found that the spline interpolation approach was better than that of linear one for the correction of time-dependent instrument drift. BCR-2G as the quality material was used to assess the proposed code, and the results revealed that the code was practical and reliable. The analytical accuracy was influenced by the used calibration materials. TiO₂, MgO, K₂O and rare earth elements in BCR-2G were slightly off (5%–10%) when NIST SRM 610 as the calibrator. Cr and Mo were higher (10%–30%) than the recommended values when StHs6/80-G was used as the calibrator. The phenomena would be attributed to the matrix effect or the inaccurate values of corresponding calibrators. Three main sources for the LA-ICP-MS combined uncertainty were recognized, including the uncertainty of recommended values of analytes in calibration material, the uncertainty of measured intensity ratios in sample and the error in bulk normalization as 100% (m/m) strategy. A total of 50 elements in CGSG glass reference materials were quantified based on the proposed Iolite code. Major elements (except MnO, CaO and P₂O₅) matched well with the recommended values with a discrepancy of 5%, and the trace elements (except Cr, Ni, Zn, Ga, Mo and Sb) were agreement with the recommended values in 10%. The dataset reported in this study was helpful for the value certification of CGSG reference materials. Overall, the proposed Iolite code broadened the application of Iolite package in the reduction of LA-ICP-MS transient signal for the elemental determination.     

Validation of multi-element isotope dilution ICPMS for the analysis of basalts

In this study we have validated a newly developed multi-element isotope dilution (ID) ICPMS method for the simultaneous analysis of up to 12 trace elements in geological samples. By evaluating the analytical uncertainty of individual components using certified reference materials we have quantified the overall analytical uncertainty of the multi-element ID ICPMS method at 1–2%. Individual components include sampling/weighing, purity of reagents, purity of spike solutions, calibration of spikes, determination of isotopic ratios, instrumental sources of error, correction of mass discrimination effect, values of constants, and operator bias. We have used the ID-determined trace elements for internal standardization to improve indirectly the analysis of 14 other (mainly mono-isotopic trace elements) by external calibration. The overall analytical uncertainty for those data is about 2–3%.In addition, we have analyzed USGS and MPI-DING geological reference materials (BHVO-1, BHVO-2, KL2-G, ML3B-G) to quantify the overall bias of the measurement procedure. Trace element analysis of geological reference materials yielded results that agree mostly within about 2–3% relative to the reference values. Since these results match the conclusions obtained by the investigation of the overall analytical uncertainty, we take this as a measure for the validity of multi-element ID ICPMS.     

Scanning vs. single spot laser ablation (λ=213 nm) inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Sampling strategy is defined in this work as the interaction of a repetitively pulsed laser beam with a fixed position on a sample (single spot) or with a moving sample (scan). Analytical performance of these sampling strategies was compared by using 213 nm laser ablation ICP-MS. A geological rock (Tuff) was quantitatively analyzed based on NIST series 610-616 glass standard reference materials. Laser ablation data were compared to ICP-MS analysis of the dissolved samples. The scan strategy (50 μm/s) produced a flat, steady temporal ICP-MS response whereas the single spot strategy produced a signal that decayed with time (after 60 s). Single-spot sampling provided better accuracy and precision than the scan strategy when the first 15 s of the sampling time was eliminated from the data analysis. In addition, the single spot strategy showed less matrix dependence among the four NIST glasses.     

Investigation of the analytical performance of gliding spark source mass spectrometry (GSSMS) for the trace analysis of nonconducting materials

A radiofrequency (rf) spark discharge in vacuum developing across the surface of dielectrics – a so-called gliding spark – has been applied to the direct mass spectrometric trace analysis of nonconducting materials. The special configuration of the electrodes strengthened the electric field over the surface of a nonconducting sample and created optimum conditions for the sputtering and ionization of the sample material. Mass spectrometric investigations of the charge composition of atomic ion and molecular ion formation in radiofrequency gliding spark plasma showed a significant difference to that of the original rf spark discharge between two conducting electrodes. The analytical figures of merit (reproducibility, relative sensitivity factors and detection limits of chemical elements) of gliding spark source mass spectrometry have been studied by using the glass standard reference materials NIST SRM 610 and 611 for the determination of trace elements in glass matrix.     

Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for Determination of Trace Elements in Geological Glasses

 Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used as a powerful multielement analytical method for trace analysis of geological glasses which are useful as reference materials for geochemical in-situ microanalytical work. The quantification of the analytical results was carried out using the BCR-2G and NIST 612 glass standard reference material (SRM). The experimentally determined relative sensitivity coefficients (RSC) for both SRMs vary between 0.2 and 3 for most of the elements, with increasing mass an increasing of relative sensitivity coefficients was observed. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for determination of trace element concentration of most elements (N=3) are between 2 and 10%. The determination of trace elements in various geological glasses by LA-ICP-MS yielded a good agreement with the reference values and those results of other trace analytical methods. Received October 15, 1999. Revision April 14, 2000.     

A strategy for selection of reference materials in stable oxygen isotope analyses of solid materials

The propagation of uncertainties associated with the stable oxygen isotope reference materials through a multi-point normalisation procedure was evaluated in this study using Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. We quantified the normalisation error for a particular selection of reference materials and their number of replicates, when the choice of standards is restricted to either nitrates, sulphates or organic reference materials alone, and in comparison with when this restriction was relaxed. A lower uncertainty in stable oxygen isotope analyses of solid materials performed using High-Temperature Pyrolysis (HTP) can be readily achieved through an optimal selection of reference materials. Among the currently available certified reference materials the best performing pairs minimising the normalisation errors are USGS35 and USGS34 for nitrates; IAEA-SO-6 and IAEA-SO-5 for sulphates; and IAEA-601 and IAEA-602 for organic materials. The normalisation error can be reduced further--by approximately half--if each of these two analysed reference materials is replicated four times. The overall optimal selection among all nine considered reference materials is the IAEA-602 and IAEA-SO-6 pair. If each of these two reference materials is replicated four times the maximum predicted normalisation error will equal 0.22‰, the minimum normalisation error 0.12‰, and the mean normalisation error 0.15‰ over the natural range of δ(18)O variability. We argue that the proposed approach provides useful insights into reference material selection and in assessing the propagation of analytical error through normalisation procedures in stable oxygen isotope studies.     

Investigation of the analytical performance of gliding spark source mass spectrometry (GSSMS) for the trace analysis of nonconducting materials

A radiofrequency (rf) spark discharge in vacuum developing across the surface of dielectrics – a so-called gliding spark – has been applied to the direct mass spectrometric trace analysis of nonconducting materials. The special configuration of the electrodes strengthened the electric field over the surface of a nonconducting sample and created optimum conditions for the sputtering and ionization of the sample material. Mass spectrometric investigations of the charge composition of atomic ion and molecular ion formation in radiofrequency gliding spark plasma showed a significant difference to that of the original rf spark discharge between two conducting electrodes. The analytical figures of merit (reproducibility, relative sensitivity factors and detection limits of chemical elements) of gliding spark source mass spectrometry have been studied by using the glass standard reference materials NIST SRM 610 and 611 for the determination of trace elements in glass matrix. Received: 31 March 1999 / Revised: 10 May 1999 / Accepted: 13 May 1999     

Two new organic reference materials for delta13C and delta15N measurements and a new value for the delta13C of NBS 22 oil

Analytical grade L-glutamic acid is chemically stable and has a C/N mole ratio of 5, which is close to that of many of natural biological materials, such as blood and animal tissue. Two L-glutamic acid reference materials with substantially different 13C and 15N abundances have been prepared for use as organic reference materials for C and N isotopic measurements. USGS40 is analytical grade L-glutamic acid and has a delta13C value of -26.24 per thousand relative to VPDB and a delta15N value of -4.52 per thousand relative to N2 in air. USGS41 was prepared by dissolving analytical grade L-glutamic acid with L-glutamic acid enriched in 13C and 15N. USGS41 has a delta13C value of +37.76 per thousand and a delta15N value of +47.57 per thousand. The delta13C and delta15N values of both materials were measured against the international reference materials NBS 19 calcium carbonate (delta13C=+1.95 per thousand ), L-SVEC lithium carbonate (delta13C=-46.48 per thousand ), IAEA-N-1 ammonium sulfate (delta15N=0.43 per thousand ), and USGS32 potassium nitrate (delta15N=180 per thousand ) by on-line combustion continuous-flow and off-line dual-inlet isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. Both USGS40 and USGS41 are isotopically homogeneous; reproducibility of delta13C is better than 0.13 per thousand, and that of delta15N is better than 0.13 per thousand in 100-microg amounts. These two isotopic reference materials can be used for (i) calibrating local laboratory reference materials, and (ii) quantifying drift with time, mass-dependent fractionations, and isotope-ratio-scale contraction in the isotopic analysis of various biological materials. Isotopic results presented in this paper yield a delta13C value for NBS 22 oil of -29.91 per thousand, in contrast to the commonly accepted value of -29.78 per thousand for which off-line blank corrections probably have not been quantified satisfactorily.     

Systematic comparison of δ13C measurements of testosterone and derivative steroids in a freeze-dried urine candidate reference material for sports drug testing by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry and uncertainty evaluation using four different metrological approaches

An alternative calibration procedure for use when performing carbon isotope ratio measurements by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) has been developed. This calibration procedure does not rely on the corrections in-built in the instrument software, as the carbon isotope ratios of a sample are calculated from the measured raw peak areas. The method was developed for the certification of a urine reference material for sports drug testing, as the estimation of measurement uncertainty is greatly simplified. To ensure that the method is free from bias arising from the choice of calibration material and instrument, the carbon isotope ratios of steroids in urine extracts were measured using two different instruments in different laboratories, and three different reference materials (CU/USADA steroid standards from Brenna Laboratory, Cornell University; NIST RM8539 mineral oil; methane calibrated against NIST RM8560 natural gas). The measurements were performed at LGC and the Australian National Measurement Institute (NMI). It was found that there was no significant difference in measurement results when different instruments and reference materials were used to measure the carbon isotope ratio of the major testosterone metabolites androsterone and etiocholanolone, or the endogenous reference compounds pregnanediol, 11- ketoetiocholanolone and 11β-hydroxyandrosterone. Expanded measurement uncertainties at the 95% coverage probability ranged from 0.21‰ to 1.4‰, depending on analyte, instrument and reference material. The measurement results of this comparison were used to estimate a measurement uncertainty of δ(13)C for the certification of the urine reference material being performed on a single instrument using a single reference material at NMI.     

New NIST-traceable standards for calibration and validation of DSC

Several reference materials and associated reference values have been recommended for the purposes of calibration and/or validation of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). However, issues of available sample purity, reference-property value accuracy, and potential undesired reactions between reference materials and the materials used for sample pans have not been considered sufficiently in some of the recommendations of property values for the materials. These limitations attenuate greatly the usefulness of many of these reference material recommendations. Indeed, the state of uncertainty regarding true reference property values can be shown to be a limiting factor in the uncertainty of measurements made with DSC. NIST has certified the temperatures and enthalpies of fusion of two new Standard Reference Materials, SRMs 2234 and 2235, in order to help alleviate some of the difficulty.