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Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) is a solid sampling technique in continuous expansion in all types of research fields in which direct multi-elemental or isotopic analysis is required. In particular, this technique shows unique characteristics that made its use recommended in many archaeometric applications, where valuable solid artifacts are often the target samples, because it offers flexibility to achieve spatially resolved information with high detection power and a wide linear range, in a fast and straightforward way, and with minimal sample damage. The current review provides a systematic survey of publications that reported the use of LA-ICPMS in an archaeological context, highlights its main capabilities and limitations and discusses the most relevant parameters that influence the performance of this technique for this type of application.

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After 40 years of development, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) can hardly be considered as a novel technique anymore. ICP-MS has become the reference when it comes to multi-element bulk...

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This article examines the increasing importance of dried matrix spot (DMS) specimens (such as dried blood spots, dried urine spots, etc.) in biomedical research, the challenges associated with their analysis when quantitative elemental information is aimed at, as well as the benefits deriving from the further usage of these types of samples. The article briefly reviews the historical evolution of this sampling approach in elemental clinical analysis, stressing prospective areas of applications (e.g., newborns or prosthesis control), the methodologies most recently developed to produce DMS of known volume, as well as novel strategies proposed to analyze them, often related to direct solid sampling techniques or fast lixiviation methods. Finally, the article discusses the type of information that could be obtained after isotopic analysis of DMS when targeting non-traditional stable isotopes (e.g., Cu, Fe or Zn), which can significantly help in the early diagnosis of some medical conditions (e.g. Wilson's disease).

This work investigates the possibility of obtaining isotopic information via the monitoring of the absorption spectra of a gaseous diatomic molecule generated in a graphite furnace and using a high-resolution (approx. 1.5 pm per pixel) monochromator (HR CS GFMAS). To test this concept, Cl was chosen as analyte and AlCl as the target species. The results demonstrate that, unlike what occurs with atomic spectra, under optimum conditions it is possible to acquire isotopic information by HR CS GFMAS in a straightforward way, as it is feasible to observe band heads for each Cl isotope (actually, for Al 35 Cl and Al 37 Cl) that are separated, i.e., they act like two different molecules absorbing at different wavelengths.The method proposed, based upon addition of both Pd and Al and the selection of peak height values, enables Cl isotopic analysis with precision values around 2% RSD for solutions with Cl contents at the mg L -1 level. Accurate values, within this uncertainty, can be directly obtained without requiring any method for mass bias correction. The potential of 2 isotope dilution for calibration is also explored, and it is proven how this approach can help in providing accurate results in situations where the occurrence of chemical interferences, a case frequently encountered for the HR CS GFMAS technique, hampers the use of other calibration approaches, as demonstrated for water analysis.

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