Applications of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in materials science

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and laser ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS) have been applied as the most important inorganic mass spectrometric techniques having multielemental capability for the characterization of solid samples in materials science. ICP-MS is used for the sensitive determination of trace and ultratrace elements in digested solutions of solid samples or of process chemicals (ultrapure water, acids and organic solutions) for the semiconductor industry with detection limits down to sub-picogram per liter levels. Whereas ICP-MS on solid samples (e.g. high-purity ceramics) sometimes requires time-consuming sample preparation for its application in materials science, and the risk of contamination is a serious drawback, a fast, direct determination of trace elements in solid materials without any sample preparation by LA-ICP-MS is possible. The detection limits for the direct analysis of solid samples by LA-ICP-MS have been determined for many elements down to the nanogram per gram range. A deterioration of detection limits was observed for elements where interferences with polyatomic ions occur. The inherent interference problem can often be solved by applying a double-focusing sector field mass spectrometer at higher mass resolution or by collision-induced reactions of polyatomic ions with a collision gas using an ICP-MS fitted with collision cell. The main problem of LA-ICP-MS is quantification if no suitable standard reference materials with a similar matrix composition are available. The calibration problem in LA-ICP-MS can be solved using on-line solution-based calibration, and different procedures, such as external calibration and standard addition, have been discussed with respect to their application in materials science. The application of isotope dilution in solution-based calibration for trace metal determination in small amounts of noble metals has been developed as a new calibration strategy. This review discusses new analytical developments and possible applications of ICP-MS and LA-ICP-MS for the quantitative determination of trace elements and in surface analysis for materials science.     

Determination of trace-level haloacetic acids in drinking water by ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A new method for the determination of nine haloacetic acids (HAAs) with ion chromatography (IC) coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was developed. With the very hydrophilic anion-exchange column and steep gradient of sodium hydroxide, the nine HAAs could be well separated in 15 min. After suppression with an ASRS suppressor that was introduced in between IC and ICP-MS, the background was much decreased, the interference caused by sodium ion present in eluent was removed, and the sensitivities of HAAs were greatly improved. The chlorinated and brominated HAAs could be detected as 35ClO and 79Br without interference of the matrix due to the elemental selective ICP-MS. The detection limits for mono-, di-, trichloroacetic acids were between 15.6 and 23.6 microg/l. For the other six bromine-containing HAAs, the detection limits were between 0.34 and 0.99 microg/l. With the pretreatment of OnGuard Ag cartridge to remove high concentration of chloride in sample, the developed method could be applied to the determination of HAAs in many drinking water matrices.     

Trace element analysis of synthetic mono- and poly-crystalline CaF2 by ultraviolet laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry at 266 and 193 nm

The analytical figures of merit for ultraviolet laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (UV-LA-ICP-MS) at 266 nm with respect to the trace element analysis of high-purity, UV-transmitting alkaline earth halides are investigated and discussed. Ablation threshold energy density values and ablation rates for mono- and poly-crystalline CaF₂ samples were determined. Furthermore, Pb-, Rb-, Sr-, Ba- and Yb-specific analysis was performed. For these purposes, a pulsed Nd:YAG laser operated at the fourth harmonic of the fundamental wavelength (λ=266 nm) and a double-focusing sector field ICP-MS detector were employed. Depending on the background noise and isotope-specific sensitivity, the detection limits typically varied from 0.7 ng/g for Sr to 7 ng/g in the case of Pb. The concentrations were determined using a glass standard reference material (SRM NIST612). In order to demonstrate the sensitivity of the arrangement described, comparative measurements by means of a commercial ablation system consisting of an ArF excimer laser (λ=193 nm) and a quadrupole-type ICP-MS (ICP-QMS) instrument were carried out. The accuracy of both analyses was in good agreement, whereas ablation at 266 nm and detection using sector-field ICP-MS led to a sensitivity that was one order of magnitude above that obtained at 193 nm with ICP-QMS.     

Multielemental analysis of food and agricultural matrixes by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

The suitability of quadrupole inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for multielemental analysis of food following microwave closed vessel digestion of samples was evaluated in relation to analytical challenges presented by some major food and agricultural matrixes. Fifteen key analytes (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn, V, Zn) were determined in 9 reference materials representative of 3 major groups of staple foods (cereals, seafood, and meat). For all measurements, the method of external calibration was used and Rh was selected as internal standard. Matrix-induced interferences were evaluated for each material, and suitable methods to overcome them were applied. Spectral interferences caused by C, Cl, and Ca content of digestates were quantitated and corrected by entering a simple system of mathematical correction equations into the instrument software before each analytical run. Full mastering of interferences together with adoption of a series of measures to control the reliability of analytical measurements produced accurate results for all the analytes. A standard analytical protocol is outlined for the benefit of both research and routine high-throughput laboratories that perform ICP-MS analyses of food.     

Determination of trace levels of iron in a seawater sample using isotope dilution/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

An analytical method for trace levels of iron in a seawater sample using isotope dilution ICP-MS was developed. Preconcentration of iron and the removal of major elements in seawater such as alkali and alkaline-earth elements can be carried out quickly using a chelating resin disk by adjusting the sample pH to 3. The collision cell option of the ICP-MS instrument method was used to improve the performance of the instrument for iron measurements since ArO and ArN interferences could be reduced using this analytical method. About 4 ml min(-1) helium, as the collision gas, were introduced into the cell. 40Ar14N and 40Ar16O which interfere with 54Fe and 56Fe in water had their amounts decreased by 5 orders of magnitude. Then, the isotope dilution method was used for iron determination below ng g(-1) level of trace iron in four environmental reference materials (river water standard sample JAC-0031 (Japan Soc. for Analytical Chemistry), estuarine standard sample SLEW-2 (NRC Canada) and seawater standard samples CASS-3 and NASS-5 (NRC Canada)) were measured. Good agreement between analytical results and certified values of reference materials was obtained, which confirmed the effectiveness of this method.     

Urinary selenium speciation by high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: advantages of detection with a double-focusing mass analyser with a hydride generation interface

A detailed comparison of the performance of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), with quadrupole and double-focusing instruments for the speciation of selenium in urine has been carried out. Selenium sensitivity about 23-59 times higher with double-focusing ICP-MS detection was observed, but limits of detection were only 1-8.7 times better because of background noise. Selenium species separation has been carried out by both reversed-phase and vesicle-mediated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), coupled on-line with the detector via conventional nebulization and via on-line focused microwave digestion-hydride generation. A remarkable improvement in sensitivity (28-110 times better for (77)Se depending on the chromatographic system) and elimination of interference problems from the urinary matrix or the components of the mobile phases were achieved when an on-line microwave digestion-hydride generation interface was used, but the background noise was much higher than with conventional nebulization. Therefore, the limits of detection were not as low as expected from such improvement in the sensitivity. More selenocompounds can be separated, and a slight improvement in the sensitivity and limits of detection was obtained when the vesicle-mediated HPLC system was used as compared with reverse-phase chromatography. However, the use of several complementary chromatographic systems, such as reverse-phase HPLC, is recommended to bring some light on the selenocompounds present in basal human urine. Comparative data of rat urine speciation are also given.     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法检测氧化镓中杂质元素

建立了电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)测定氧化镓中杂质元素的检测方法,采用微波消解技术溶样,以5 ng/mL Rh为内标补偿校正镓基体的抑制效应,采用碰撞室技术(CCT)消除多元素分子离子的干扰.方法的检出限为0.10～1.0 ng/mL,加标回收率在85%～110%之间,RSD为0.6%～7.1%.该方法能满足99.95%～99.995%氧化镓中杂质元素的分析要求.     

Speciation of metal-EDTA complexes by flow injection analysis with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and ion chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Flow injection analysis (FIA) with ESI-MS and ion chromatography (IC) with inductively coupled plasma-MS (ICP-MS) as the complementary technique have been explored for the determination of metal ions as their metal-EDTA complexes. ESI-MS enabled the identification of metal-EDTA complexes such as [Mn(EDTA)](2-), [Co(EDTA)](2-), [Ni(EDTA)](2-), [Cu(EDTA)](2-), [Zn(EDTA)](2-), [Pb(EDTA)](2-), and [Fe(EDTA)](1-) and their MS spectral showed that these metal-EDTA complexes were present in solution. Based on the ESI-MS, ion chromatographic separation and ICP-MS detection of these complexes are possible because IC-ICP-MS requires stable metal-EDTA complex during the chromatographic separation. The separation of these metal-EDTA complexes was achieved on an anion-exchange column with a mobile phase containing 30 mM NH(4)(HPO(4))(2) at pH 7.5 within 7 min with ICP-MS providing element specific detection. The ICP-MS LODs for the metal-EDTA were in the range of 0.1-0.5 microg/L with the exception of Fe (15 microg/L). The proposed method was a simple procedure for sample processing, using direct injection of sample without removal of sample matrix and was successfully applied to the determination of metal-EDTA complexes in real samples.     

Electrothermal vaporization dynamic reaction cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the determination of Fe,Co, Ni,Cu, and Zn in biological samples

Slurry sampling electrothermal vaporization dynamic reaction cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ETV-DRC-ICP-MS) has been applied to determine Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn in biological samples. The influences of instrument operating conditions and slurry preparation on the ion signals were reported. Pd was used as the modifier. The effectiveness of the ETV sample introduction technique and dynamic reaction cell in alleviating various spectral interferences in ICP-MS analysis has been demonstrated. This method has been applied to determine Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn in NIST SRM 1573a tomato leaves reference material and NRCC DORM-2 dogfish muscle reference material and also real samples such as a tea and a swordfish sample purchased locally. Since the sensitivities of the elements studied in slurry and aqueous solution were different, an analyte addition technique was used for the determinations. The analytical results of the reference materials agreed with the certified values. The precision between sample replicates was better than 6% for all determinations. The method detection limit estimated from analyte addition curves was 0.01, 0.006, 0.007, 0.004, and 0.006 μg g⁻¹ for Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn, respectively, in the original biological samples.     

Determination of glyphosate and phosphate in water by ion chromatography--inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection

Quantitative determination of trace glyphosate and phosphate in waters was achieved by coupling ion chromatography (IC) separation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) detection. The separation of glyphosate and phosphate on a polymer anion-exchange column (Dionex IonPac AS16, 4.0 mm x 250 mm) was obtained by eluting them with 20 mM citric acid at 0.50 mL min(-1), and the analytes were detected directly and selectively by ICP-MS at m/z = 31. Parameters affecting their chromatographic behaviors and ICP-MS characteristics were systematically examined. Based on a 500-microL sample injection volume, the detection limits were 0.7 microgL(-1) for both glyphosate and phosphate, and the calibrations were linear up to 400 microgL(-1). Polyphosphates, aminomethylphosphonic acid (the major metabolite of glyphosate), non-polar and other polar phosphorus-containing pesticides showed different chromatographic behaviors from the analytes of interest and therefore did not interference. The determination was also interference free from the matrix anions (nitrate, nitrite, sulphate, chloride, etc.) and metallic ions. The analysis of certified reference material, drinking water, reservoir water and Newater yielded satisfactory results with spiked recoveries of 97.1-107.0% and relative standard deviations of < or = 7.4% (n = 3). Compared to other reported methods for glyphosate and phosphate, the developed IC-ICP-MS method is sensitive and simple, and does not require any chemical derivatization, sample preconcentration and mobile phase conductivity suppression.     

Determination of arsenite, arsenate, and monomethylarsonic acid in seawater by ion-exclusion chromatography combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using reaction cell and hydride generation techniques

This paper describes a robust and sensitive method for the determination of arsenic species in seawater by ion-exclusion liquid chromatography (LC) combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) using reaction cell and hydride generation (HG) techniques. A good separation of arsenite, arsenate, and monomethylarsonic acid was achieved using an ion-exclusion column packed with a sulfonated polystyrene resin and a dilute nitric acid at pH 2.0 as the eluent, even when a large volume, i.e. 200 mul, of seawater samples containing a large amount of matrix was repeatedly injected. Separations of the chloride ion due to the matrix and arsenic species were partially performed; however, the extensive peak of ArCl due to high content of Cl(-) in a sample overlapped peaks of the three arsenic species on (75)As measurement by ICP-MS. This ArCl polyatomic interference was efficiently eliminated by collision of ArCl molecules with helium in an octopole reaction cell which was introduced prior to a mass spectrometer. Detection limits of the three arsenic species in a sample containing 2% Cl(-), the concentration of which is comparable to that in a seawater sample, by LC-ICP-MS with the octopole reaction system (ORS), ranged from 21 to 25 pg As ml(-1); these values were three-six times lower than those by LC-ICP-MS without ORS. As another technique for ArCl interference elimination, HG prior to ICP-MS was also successfully used not only to reduce the interference but also to improve the detection limits to 3.4-4.5 pg As ml(-1). The developed LC-ICP-ORS-MS and LC-HG-ICP-MS were validated by analyzing a certified reference material (CRM) of seawater. In addition, no serious decrease in analytical performance of present methods was observed in the experimental periods of half a year for LC-ICP-ORS-MS and 1 year for LC-HG-ICP-MS, respectively. The latter method was successfully applied to characterize seasonal variations of three arsenic species in deep seawater and surface seawater.     

Determination of calcium, iron and manganese in moss by automated discrete sampling flame atomic absorption spectrometry as an alternative to the ICP-MS analysis

An automated, fast and reliable procedure has been developed for flame atomic absorption analysis of Ca, Fe and Mn in moss. The method is suitable for routine analysis of a large number of moss samples and allows sequential determination of all three elements in the same solution. In order to inhibit the matrix interference on Ca and to level the diverse analytical behaviour of the moss matrix, approximately 1% La was added to both samples and standard solutions as well. An integrated system of ‘sandwich-type’ air segmented discrete sample introduction and flame atomic absorption detection (ASDI-FAAS) was successfully applied. It works at ‘solvent-air-sample-air-solvent’ mode, which tolerates the introduction of high salt content solutions, reduces reagent and sample consumption and allows the application of data treatment models to pseudo-steady state signals for bettering the repeatability. For moss samples containing high Ca and Fe concentrations, equivalent procedure was used by turned on 45° burner head without worsening the analytical characteristics. Concerning these three elements, the method is suggested as a cheaper, easier and more trustworthy alternative with a better precision to the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) one. The ASDI-FAAS results were used for selection of appropriate isotopes and correction procedures for ICP-MS determination. Both methods show good agreement of the Ca, Fe and Mn results that correspond to the moss reference materials tested.     

Comparison of some analytical performance characteristics in inductively coupled plasma spectrometry of platinum group metals and gold

The limits of detection, precision and matrix effects in the inductively coupled plasma spectrometry of platinum group metals (PGMs) and gold were measured and evaluated for four ICP-AES and one ICP-MS instrument. The sample matrix was a cationic surfactant used for the PGMs and gold preconcentration on a modified silica gel (C18). A sorption of ion associates of PGMs and gold chlorocomplexes with the cation of onium salt N(1-carbaethoxypentadecyl)-trimethyl ammonium bromide was considered. The calibration curves, limits of detection and matrix effects were evaluated in the presence of 0.003 mol dm(-3) of onium salt (1.3 mg cm(-3)) and 0.1 mol dm(-3) HCl. The values of limits of detection (3 sigma(bl)) of PGMs for all axial ICP instruments were mostly below 10 ng cm(-3). Lateral observation on dual view ICP instrument yielded only 3 times higher detection limits in comparison to the axial mode of the same spectrometer and the detection limits for ICP-MS instrument were on the levels of units or tens of pg cm(-3). These limits of detection did not significantly differ from values obtained with pure solutions. Matrix effects in the presence of onium salt did not exceed 12% depression in the analytical signals. Besides the coefficients of correlation, the uncertainties on centroids of concentrations were calculated for calibration graphs obtained by linear regression.     

高效液相色谱-电感耦合等离子体质谱联用同时测定鸡肉与鸡肝中的7种砷形态

建立了一种同时测定阿散酸、亚砷酸根、砷酸根、砷胆碱、砷甜菜碱、一甲基砷和二甲基砷等7种砷形态的高效液相色谱-电感耦合等离子体质谱分析方法。样品采用人工胃液作为提取液进行超声处理,再以碳酸铵溶液和水作为流动相,采用阴离子分析柱将样品提取液进行分离,最后进入电感耦合等离子体质谱测定。各砷形态在1～50 μg/kg范围内线性关系良好,相关系数r2均在0.999以上;在1、2、10 μg/kg 3个添加水平进行了方法学验证,平均回收率为84.3%～106.6%,相对标准偏差为1.4%～4.2%; 7种砷形态的定量限均为1 μg/kg。方法重现性好、灵敏度高、前处理简单,适用于鸡肉和鸡肝中主要有机砷和无机砷残留的分析检测。     

Determination of phosphorus in small amounts of protein samples by ICP–MS

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is used for phosphorus determination in protein samples. A small amount of solid protein sample (down to 1 micro g) or digest (1-10 micro L) protein solution was denatured in nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide by closed-microvessel microwave digestion. Phosphorus determination was performed with an optimized analytical method using a double-focusing sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-SFMS) and quadrupole-based ICP-MS (ICP-QMS). For quality control of phosphorus determination a certified reference material (CRM), single cell proteins (BCR 273) with a high phosphorus content of 26.8+/-0.4 mg g(-1), was analyzed. For studies on phosphorus determination in proteins while reducing the sample amount as low as possible the homogeneity of CRM BCR 273 was investigated. Relative standard deviation and measurement accuracy in ICP-QMS was within 2%, 3.5%, 11% and 12% when using CRM BCR 273 sample weights of 40 mg, 5 mg, 1 mg and 0.3 mg, respectively. The lowest possible sample weight for an accurate phosphorus analysis in protein samples by ICP-MS is discussed. The analytical method developed was applied for the analysis of homogeneous protein samples in very low amounts [1-100 micro g of solid protein sample, e.g. beta-casein or down to 1 micro L of protein or digest in solution (e.g., tau protein)]. A further reduction of the diluted protein solution volume was achieved by the application of flow injection in ICP-SFMS, which is discussed with reference to real protein digests after protein separation using 2D gel electrophoresis.The detection limits for phosphorus in biological samples were determined by ICP-SFMS down to the ng g(-1) level. The present work discusses the figure of merit for the determination of phosphorus in a small amount of protein sample with ICP-SFMS in comparison to ICP-QMS.     

电感耦合等离子体质谱技术最新进展

对1998年以来电感耦合等离子体质谱技术（ICP－MS）的最新进展作一简要回顾。内容包括同位素比值分析、双聚焦扇形磁场高分辨ICP－MS、多接收器磁扇形等离子体质谱仪（MC－ICP－MS）、飞行时间等离子体质谱仪（ICP－TOF－MS）、“冷”等离子体及屏蔽炬技术以及动态碰撞／反应池技术等进展。     

Speciation of arsenic by ion chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using ammonium eluents

A method based on ion chromatography (IC) and inductively coupled plasma MS (ICP-MS) was developed for the speciation of arsenic in water and soil extracts. An anion-exchange column (G3154A/101) was used to separate As(III), As(V), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) with excellent resolution. Various ammonium salts, including NH4H2PO4, (NH4)2HPO4, (NH4)2CO3, and NH4HCO3, were examined as eluents to reduce matrix interference from chloride and to solve clogging problems. The best arsenic speciation was obtained within 9 min with excellent resolution and without interference from high chloride concentrations using an eluent containing 7.5 mM (NH4)2HPO4 at pH 7.9. The detection limits for the target arsenic species ranged from 0.1 to 0.4 microg/L with direct injection of sample without matrix elimination. The proposed method was effectively demonstrated by determining arsenic species in contaminated waters and soils of Bangladesh.     

Determination of long-lived radionuclides in concrete matrix by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A laser ablation system using a Nd:YAG laser was coupled both to a quadrupole inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometer and to a double-focusing sector field ICP mass spectrometer. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was applied for the determination of long-lived radionuclides in a concrete matrix. The investigated samples were two laboratory standards with a concrete matrix, which we doped with different long-lived radionuclides (e.g. ⁹⁹Tc, ²³²Th, ²³³U, ²³⁷Np) from the ng g⁻¹ to μ g⁻¹ concentration range and an undoped concrete material (blank). Detection limits for long-lived radionuclides in the 10 ng g⁻¹ range are reached for LA-ICP-MS using the quadrupole mass spectrometer. With double-focusing sector field ICP-MS, the limits of detection are in general one order of magnitude lower and reach the sub ng g⁻¹ range for ²³³U and ²³⁷Np. A comparison of mass spectrometric results with those of neutron activation analysis on undoped concrete sample indicates that a semiquantitative determination of the concentrations of the minor and trace elements in the concrete matrix is possible with LA-ICP-MS without using a standard reference material.     

气相色谱-电子捕获检测法测定海水中十氯酮残留

通过考察提取溶剂、毛细管柱、净化条件及共溶出干扰物等因素对十氯酮测定的影响,建立了二氯甲烷液-液富集萃取、硫酸净化分离、气相色谱法(GC)-电子捕获检测器(ECD)测定海水介质中有机氯农药类持久性有机污染物十氯酮残留分析方法。1 L海水经50 mL二氯甲烷萃取富集,浓缩后采用硫酸净化,以1%(体积分数)甲醇/正己烷混合溶液转移定容后,采用DB-5非极性毛细管柱进行GC分离,电子捕获检测器可测定其中十氯酮的含量;该方法采用外标法定量,在5～100 μg/L范围内呈线性,线性相关系数为0.9989。低、中、高3个浓度水平的平均加标回收率为81%～108%,相对标准偏差为1.2%～5.1%(n=6)。方法的检出限为0.6 ng/L。结果表明,该方法灵敏度高,线性关系好,可以满足简便、快速、准确测定海水中十氯酮的要求。     

Direct determination of trace elements in tungsten products using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission charge coupled device detector spectrometer

An echelle inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer equipped with a segmented array of charge coupled device detectors was used for the direct determination of trace impurities in tungsten products. No sample preparation was necessary. The multicomponent spectral fitting software provided by the instrument was used for the correction of spectral interference and background. The detection limits of the trace elements Al, As, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Sn, Ti and V in tungsten matrix were obtained under optimized operating conditions. The accuracy of the proposed method was assessed using three National Reference Materials. As a result of their ultra-trace concentrations in the reference materials, As, Pb and Sn could not be determined satisfactorily. The concentrations found for the other elements agreed quite well with those of the certified values of the reference materials.