Determination of trace elements in quartz glass by use of LINA-Spark–ICP–MS as a new method for bulk analysis of solid samples

Abstract

The determination of trace elements in pure quartz glass samples has been performed by coupling an ICP quadrupole mass spectrometer with the LINA-Spark-Atomizer, an IR laser ablation system dedicated to direct bulk and surface analysis of solid samples. Linear calibration curves were obtained for nine elements (Na, Al, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Zr, Ba, and Pb) in the ng g(-1) range with detection limits of less than 10 ng g(-1) for Ca, Cr, Mn, Zr, Ba, and Pb and in the range of 120-220 ng g(-1) for Na, Al, and Ti. The distance between the laser focal point and the sample surface has a significant influence on signal intensity and precision, both of which can be improved by a factor of approximately two by focusing the laser 15 mm behind the sample surface. Aerosol moistening reduced the standard deviation of the signal intensity by a factor of 2-4. Signal instability, which resulted from different ablation rates or variations in the transmission of the mass spectrometer, were compensated by use of the simultaneously measured SiAr+ ion as an internal standard. Under these conditions precision was usually better than 5% RSD. The results were compared with those obtained by use of a commercial LA-ICP-MS system. With this instrumentation linear calibration curves were achieved for three elements only (Al, Ti, and Pb), showing that LA-ICP-MS is less appropriate for bulk analysis in the ng g(-1) range.

Application of isotope-dilution laser ablation ICP?MS for direct determination of Pu concentrations in soils at pg�g?1 levels

“…This is, to the best of our knowledge, the lowest detection limit yet reported in direct LA-ICP-MS analysis (a detection limit of 1.3×10 -12 g g -1 for 233 U was achieved in direct solid analysis using LA-ICP-MS [16]). This low detection limit is a result of the high sensitivity of the LINA-Spark-Atomizer laser ablation system applied in the present work, which is due to a high laser power density and high ablation rates [17]. In addition the LINA-Spark-Atomizer is expected to produce smaller aerosol particles of several nanometers, as was observed for ceramics [21].…”

“…This method has been successfully applied for ultra-trace analysis of long-lived radionuclides in solid samples [16]. In general, bulk analysis using LA-ICP-MS requires a sufficiently large sampling area to avoid possible influences of sample inhomogeneity on the precision and accuracy of mean concentrations, and higher mass ablation rate to improve the detection limit [17]. These requirements are of particular importance in radionuclide analysis of environmental samples, because the radionuclides might be included in small particles with dimensions of a few micrometers or less (so-called "hot particles"), distributed inhomogeneously in the samples.…”

“…These requirements are of particular importance in radionuclide analysis of environmental samples, because the radionuclides might be included in small particles with dimensions of a few micrometers or less (so-called "hot particles"), distributed inhomogeneously in the samples. Among available LA-ICP-MS systems, the LINA-Spark-Atomizer has definite advantages for direct bulk analysis at ultra-trace levels, because of high laser power density, high ablation rates, and production of small aerosol particulates [17,18,19].…”

“…The ablated sampling area has a diameter of roughly 4 mm, which is usually large enough to compensate for sample inhomogeneity. Further details of the applied LA system can be found elsewhere [17,18].…”

Direct solid analysis of powdered tungsten carbide hardmetal precursors by laser-induced argon spark ablation with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

“…This device, the LINA Spark Atomizer, is based on a Nd:YAG laser operated at 1064 nm with laser beam focused relatively deep behind the sample surface [19,20,21]. This ablation system has already been used for the analysis of metal samples [1,22,23], plasma-sprayed tungsten carbide coatings [24], cobalt-cemented tungsten carbide hardmetals [2], agricultural soils [17,18] and quartz glass [25].…”