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。     

海水中钕同位素的测定及其在水团混合中的指示意义

海水中的钕(Nd)同位素性质稳定,被广泛用于海洋学过程的研究。由于海水中Nd含量很低,且在测定过程中易受钐(Sm)的影响,因此富集和纯化成为海水中Nd同位素分析的必要步骤。传统的分离方法通常是利用氢氧化铁共沉淀法富集海水中的稀土元素(REEs),再用LN-C50-A树脂对Nd进行分离纯化。但富集过程较为耗时。本研究采用NOBIAS螯合树脂对海水中的稀土元素进行富集,优化了上样pH值、NOBIAS PA1螯合树脂淋洗酸浓度、LN-C50-A树脂淋洗酸体积等实验条件。结果表明,当pH=4.7时,NOBIAS PA1螯合树脂对钕的回收效率大于99%;LN-C50-A树脂对钕分离纯化的回收效率大于93%。本方法重现性好(RSD1.5%,n=3),且系统误差对钕同位素的测定无显著影响(RSD5%,n=5),能满足海水中钕及其同位素分析精度的要求。     

多接收器电感耦合等离子体质谱方法的开发和应用进展

稳定同位素分析是分析化学一项颇具前景的分支,通过精确测定物质的稳定同位素比值,可以追溯物质来源并探究其转化过程。高精度稳定同位素分析技术的进步依赖于新一代质谱仪的不断发展。其中,多接收器电感耦合等离子体质谱(MC-ICP-MS)是近年发展迅速的一种同位素组成测定工具。稳定同位素分析对样品基质十分敏感,复杂基质能严重干扰同位素测定的精密度和准确度。这对MC-ICP-MS的样品净化提出了极高要求,目前也是同位素分析领域的热点问题。该文聚焦于近年来MC-ICP-MS在样品净化及仪器联用方法方面的相关研究进展,并展望了MC-ICP-MS稳定同位素分析的应用前景。     

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.     

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.     

硼硅酸盐矿物硼的化学分离纯化与同位素测定方法

采用碱熔法分解电气石样品,研究了3种不同纯化分离方法对硼回收和同位素测定的影响。实验表明:电气石中富含的Fe³⁺和Al³⁺对甲亚胺-H酸分光光度法测定硼含量有较大干扰,并在硼特效树脂交换分离中形成氢氧化物沉淀,阻塞交换柱;同时吸附溶液中硼元素造成回收率降低。本实验依次采用阴/阳离子混合树脂,硼特效树脂和阴/阳离子混合树脂三步离子交换进行电气石样品的纯化分离方法,实现了复杂基体中硼的完全回收（回收率99%）。在TIMS（Triton TI）采用H3和H4法拉第杯,并通过优化Zoom Optics参数（Focus Quad:15;Dispersion Quad:-85）实现静态双接收硼同位素组成测定。本方法对NIST SRM 951标准样品测定结果为¹¹B/¹⁰B=4.05044±0.00012（2σ,n=8,1μg B）,测定内外精度优于传统的动态峰跳扫。NIST SRM951测定结果为-0.3‰,表明预处理过程中无硼同位素分馏效应。天然样品硼同位素组成分别采用静态多接收PTIMS-Cs₂BO₂⁺法和MC-ICP-MS测定,数据点基本分布在1:1线上,说明MC-ICP-MS测定结果与PTIMS方法结果相一致。     

天然样品中锂的分离及其同位素比值的测定

以锂元素标准样品和K、Na、Ca、Mg元素标准样品的混合溶液为主要研究对象,采用阳离子交换树脂AG-50W X8(0.032~0.098 mm粒径)来分离富集L i,探索不同淋洗介质(包括盐酸、硝酸以及与甲醇、乙醇的混合)对L i分离纯化的最佳效果。在对比研究的基础上,建立了一种有效分离提纯天然样品中L i的方法。用本方法分离了水体、土壤、岩石等天然样品中的L i,并用MC-ICP-MS准确测定了L i同位素组成。研究结果表明,该方法的精度在0.1‰~1.0‰,与目前文献报道的分析方法具有相似的精度。经过流程前后单元素标准L i同位素比值(7δL i)的比较,发现化学处理过程所产生的同位素分馏约为0.3‰,化学处理的流程空白可以忽略不计。该方法测定海水7δL i值为(31.6±1.0)‰,与前人的分析结果吻合。因此,本方法可用于测定天然样品中的L i同位素组成。     

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.     

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。     

热电离质谱法测定次纳克级钕同位素比值

采用热电离质谱法测定次纳克级钕同位素的比值。应用金属铼带对0.1~0.5ng Nd同位素标准样品进行测定,在不添加任何发射剂或者电离增强剂的条件下,采用特定的聚焦程序,获得了0.4~1V的142 Nd+稳定离子流,持续时间可达30min以上。电流范围在1 700~2 000mA之间时,质量分馏效应缓慢变低稳定。应用此方法对42个0.1~0.5ng La Jolla国际标准样品和18个0.1~0.5ng LRIG-Nd室内参考标准样品进行测定,143 Nd/144 Nd比值分别为0.511 852±0.000 002(2SE)和0.512 201±0.000 003(2SE),与其他报道参考值相符。     

Accurate measurement of neodymium isotopic composition using Neptune MC-ICP-MS

This paper reports the measurement of the Neodymium isotopic composition by Neptune Multiple Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) over the last two years. Although there is concomitant Cerium in the chemical separation process, this has no significant influence on the Neodymium analysis. As for the sample containing small amounts of Samarium (Sm/Nd < 0.04), direct calibration for isobaric interference and mass discrimination by the exponential law can be obtained by assuming that Samarium mass discrimination is the same as that of Neodymium. Geological samples after traditional chemical separation were measured by Neptune MC-ICP-MS and Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS) respectively. The results show that Neptune MC-ICP-MS can measure Neodymium isotopic composition as precisely the TIMS does and is even more effective and less time-consuming than the TIMS Method. __________ Translated from Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 2007, 35(1): 71–74 [译自: 分析化学]     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Isotope-ratio measurements of lead in NIST standard reference materials by multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The capability of a second-generation Nu Instruments multiple collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) has been evaluated for precise and accurate isotope-ratio determinations of lead. Essentially the mass spectrometer is a double-focusing instrument of Nier-Johnson analyzer geometry equipped with a newly designed variable-dispersion ion optical device, enabling the measured ion beams to be focused into a fixed array of Faraday collectors and an ion-counting assembly. NIST SRM Pb 981, 982, and 983 isotopic standards were used. Addition of thallium to the lead standards and subsequent simultaneous measurement of the thallium and lead isotopes enabled correction for mass discrimination, by use of the exponential correction law and 205Tl/203Tl = 2.3875. Six measurements of SRM Pb-982 furnished the results 206Pb/204Pb = 36.7326(68), 207Pb/204Pb = 17.1543(30), 208Pb/204Pb = 36.7249(69), 207Pb/206Pb = 0.46700(1), and 208Pb/206Pb = 0.99979(2); the NIST-certified values were 36.738(37), 17.159(25), 36.744(50), 0.46707(20), and 1.00016(36), respectively. Direct isotope lead analysis in silicates can be performed without any chemical separation. NIST SRM 610 glass was dissolved and introduced into the MC-ICP-MS by means of a micro concentric nebulizer. The ratios observed were in excellent agreement with previously reported data obtained by TIMS and laser ablation MC-ICP-MS, despite the high Ca/Pb concentration ratio (200/1) and the presence of many other elements at levels comparable with that of lead. Approximately 0.2 microg lead are sufficient for isotope analysis with ratio uncertainties between 240 and 530 ppm.     

Accuracy and long-term reproducibility of lead isotopic measurements by multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using an external method for correction of mass discrimination

The precision of isotopic measurements of Pb by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) is limited by the fact that this element does not possess an invariant isotope ratio that can be used for the correction of mass fractionation by internal normalization. Multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS) can overcome this limitation, because with plasma ionization, elements with overlapping mass ranges are thought to display identical mass discrimination. With respect to Pb, this can be exploited by the addition of Tl to the sample solutions; the mass discrimination factor obtained for Tl can then be used for the correction of the measured Pb isotope ratios. In this article we present the results of a detailed study that investigates the accuracy and precision of such an external correction technique for mass discrimination based upon the results of multiple analyses of a mixed standard solution of NIST SRM-981 Pb and SRM-997 Tl. Our data indicate that normalization of the Pb isotope ratios to the certified isotopic composition of SRM-997 Tl produces Pb isotopic results that are significantly lower than recently published reference values by TIMS. This systematic offset can be eliminated by renormalization of the Pb data to a different Tl isotopic composition to obtain an empirically determined mass discrimination factor for Pb that generates accurate results. It is furthermore shown that a linear law is least suited for the correction of mass discrimination, whereas a power or exponential law function provide significantly more accurate and precise results. In detail, it appears that a power law may provide the most appropriate correction procedure, because the corrected Pb isotope ratios display less residual correlations with mass discrimination compared to the exponentially corrected data. Using an exponential or power law correction our results, obtained over a period of over seven months, display a precision (2σ) of better than 60 parts per million (ppm) for ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb and of better than 350 ppm for ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb. This represents a significant improvement compared to conventional TIMS techniques and demonstrates the potential of MC-ICPMS for routine, high-precision measurements of Pb isotopic compositions.     

Accurate U–Th radioactive disequilibrium analyses of carbonate rock samples using commercially available U and Th reagents and multi-collector ICP-MS

This study aims at developing a new analytical procedure for U–Th radioactive disequilibrium of carbonate rock samples. The procedure utilizes commercially available U and Th reagents as spikes for isotope dilution analysis with a multiple-collector inductively coupled mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS). Uranium and thorium in a carbonate sample were purified by Fe-coprecipitation, anion exchange resin, and U/TEVA resin. Isotopic compositions of purified spiked and unspiked U and Th were measured respectively for abundance and isotopic analyses. The correction of mass fractionation and the Daly/Faraday gain factor for Th measurements is carried out with a U standard solution. Accuracy of our method was confirmed by analyses of a coral sample that had been dated with thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). Our results indicate that U–Th disequilibrium studies are possible using easily available U and Th reagents as spikes.     

Isotopic analysis of single uranium and plutonium particles by chemical treatment and mass spectrometry

The isotopic composition of single uranium and plutonium particles was measured with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and a thermal ionization mass spectrometer (TIMS). Particles deposited on a carbon planchet were first analyzed with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) attached to a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and then transferred on to a silicon wafer using a manipulator. The particle on the silicon wafer was dissolved with nitric acid and the isotopic ratios of U and Pu were measured with ICP-MS and TIMS. The results obtained by both methods for particles of certified reference materials showed good agreement with the certified values within the expected uncertainty. The measurement uncertainties obtained in this study were similar for both mass spectrometric methods. This study was performed to establish the method of particle analysis with SEM, EDX, the particle manipulation and chemical preparation technique, and the measurement of isotopic ratios of U and Pu in a single particle by mass spectrometry.     

Determination of Am and Cm in spent nuclear fuels by isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry after separation by high-performance liquid chromatography

Elemental and isotopic determination of americium and curium in spent nuclear fuels is necessary to validate neutronic calculation codes and for nuclear waste disposal purposes. Prior to mass spectrometric analysis, it is mandatory to perform separations in order to eliminate isobaric interferences between U, Pu, Am and Cm. In the spent fuels samples analyzed, a separation of U and Pu has been first realized with an anion-exchange resin. Then a rapid Am/Cm separation has been developed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an on-line detection using the Am and Cm α-emission. The influence of the different parameters on the chromatographic separation are described and discussed. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and thermal-ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) have been used to measure the isotopic composition of U, Am and Cm and to determine the ²⁴¹Am/²³⁸U and ²⁴⁴Cm/²³⁸U ratios with the double spike isotope dilution method. The measurement procedures and the accuracy and precision of the results obtained with a quadrupole ICP-MS on different spent fuels samples are discussed and compared with those obtained by TIMS, used as a reference technique. Received: 30 November 1998 / Revised: 8 January 1999 / Accepted: 12 January 1999