A new method for the SI-traceable quantification of element contents in solid samples using LA-ICP-MS

Abstract

The solid sample itself acts as the perfectly matrix-matched calibration standard. This approach allows for a comprehensive measurement uncertainty.

Combining standard addition and isotope dilution in order to improve SI traceable LA-ICP-MS measurements

“…Mass fractions of several elements contained in the glass-based NIST SRM 612 were certified or given as information values, like the mass fraction of boron (32 µg g −1 ) 31 . For comparison, the established method for the SI traceable quantification 20 and the new technique were performed separately to determine the boron content in NIST SRM 612.…”

“…While the equa- tions for the linear regression and the quantity of interest belonging to the new method are given above (eqs. ( 8) and ( 11)), the description of LA-ICP-MS equations can be found in Michaliszyn et al, JAAS, 2020, 35, 126-135 20 , but the important equations are given in eqs. ( 1) and ( 3).…”

“…18,19 A novel method that uses the sample itself as the perfectly matched matrix reference material was published in 2020. 20 Here, an element already present in the solid sample with known mass fraction, has to be chosen as the reference element (R). The ablated material is introduced into the plasma of the ICP-MS simultaneously with a solution.…”

“…A detailed derivation is given in the ESI. † The fundamental assumption for the quantitative LA-ICP-MS 20 as well as the LA-ID-ICP-MS is that the measured intensity of an isotope j E of an element (E) corresponds to the flow of analyte ions through the constant k. The flow of analyte ions can be expressed by the isotope abundance (x), the mass fraction of the element in the sample (w), the mass flow ( ṁ), the Avogadro constant (N A ) and the molar mass of the element (M). In order to apply eq.…”

“…By dividing the slope ( a 1 ) by the y -intercept ( a 0 ), eqn (1) can be rearranged yielding an expression for the mass fraction ( w ) of the element (E) in the solid sample (x) (eqn (2)). 20 …”