Determination of trace cobalt in fruit samples by resonance ionization mass spectrometry

1-color 2-photon resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) with a new electro-thermal atomizer equipped with six filaments has been applied for quantitative analysis of trace cobalt in fruit samples. The efficient transition lines for sensitive detection were investigated in the wavelength range of 283-302 nm and a transition at 298.71 nm was chosen as an excited state for the determination of Co. A proper calibration curve for cobalt up to 1 ppb has been constructed with satisfactory results. The minimum detectible amount of cobalt in this RIMS system was identified as less than 5 pg. The content of Co in three different fruits, pear, apple and Korean mandarin orange, have been determined by adopting standard addition to the fruit sample juice. The content of the Co in 5 μl of apple, pear and Korean mandarin juice was identified as 150, 45 and 100 pg, respectively.