Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

ICP-MS is based on the formation of (preferentially monovalent positively) charged atomic ions in an inductively coupled Ar plasma at almost 10 000 K. The ions formed are transferred from the plasma source at ambient pressure into a mass separator operated at high vacuum via a set of cones. The ions are separated according to their mass/charge ratio in the mass separator (quadrupole, magnetic sector field or time-of-flight mass separator). In most cases, the ions are detected using a secondary electron multiplier; in some set-ups (also) a Faraday cup can be used. Single-collector (scanning mass spectrometer usually used for quantitative elemental analysis) or multicollector (static operation of mass spectrometer for precise isotope ratio analysis) configurations can be found (Figures 12.1 and 12.2).

Mass Spectrometry‐based Techniques for Direct Quantification of High Ionization Energy Elements in Solid Materials—challenges and Perspectives

“…To conclude, due to several reasons, the ionization of highly electronegative elements is less efficient than other elements complicating their determination by mass spectrometric techniques. The presence of spectral interferences may also cause additional difficulties; however, this problem is to a certain extent present in all ionization sources and often requires special efforts to acquire the accurate results such as the use of higher resolution mass analyzers (Brand et al, 2015; Bürger et al, 2015; Jakubowski et al, 2015; Sangely et al, 2015; Venzago & Pisonero, 2015) or, for example, the use of ion reactions in collision reaction cell technology in ICP‐MS (Tanner, Baranov, & Bandura, 2002; Yamada, 2015). Notably, the interferences are mainly dependent on the mass range rather than the ionization energy of the elements, medium masses (ca.…”

“…ICP‐MS is currently one of the most popular techniques for the quantitative elemental analysis, especially for liquid samples (Jakubowski et al, 2015; Feldmann, Raab, & Krupp, 2018). The main advantages of the technique are robustness, high sample output, flexibility, and versatility including the capacity for coupling with separation techniques (Swart, 2013; Michalke et al, 2018) or LA (Limbeck et al, 2015; Lobo, Pereiro, & Fernández, 2018) applicability for isotopic ratio measurements and the use of isotope dilution protocols, providing excellent metrological traceability.…”

Performance of second generation ICP-TOFMS for (multi-)isotope ratio analysis: a case study on B, Sr and Pb and their isotope fractionation behavior during the measurements

“…Under optimal conditions, MC TIMS and MC ICP-MS instruments provide isotope ratio precisions of ≤0.001% RSD (in low resolution). 16,17…”

Separation and isotope ratio measurements of actinides and lanthanides in spent nuclear fuel samples by CE-MC-ICP-MS

“…Thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) and multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) are commonly used for isotope ratio measurements at a per-mil level of uncertainty. 4,5 It is also possible to determine elemental concentrations with a per-mil level of uncertainty using the isotope dilution method in conjunction with TIMS or MC-ICP-MS. 6 However, due to the presence of interferences or matrix effects, one or several chemical separation steps need to be performed prior to analysis. Another way of overcoming these issues is to use collision–reaction cells, 7–9 but this will not be discussed in detail here.…”