Isotope dilution mass spectrometry — A primary method of measurement and its role for RM certification

Abstract

This article describes the application of isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) to the field of reference material (RM) characterisation focusing on the approach, which is applied by the IDMS group at BAM. Emphasis is placed on IDMS measurements of highest analytical quality. Basic principles as well as the equation system are being recalled. Different calibration strategies, such as single, double or triple IDMS, are critically reviewed and the achievable uncertainties are discussed. Differences in the application of thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) are discussed as well as differences between different types of mass spectrometers such as single collector versus multi-collector or quadrupole versus magnetic sector instruments. Possible sources of errors and bias are mentioned and correction models introduced and applied within the past years are discussed. Several examples for RM characterisations in the field of elemental analysis are shown, each demonstrating excellent analytical quality. In general it can be stated that IDMS is the most important reference method for elemental analysis, offering highest accuracy and precision or smallest measurement uncertainties, when properly applied. Thus IDMS represents by far the best suited reference method for RM characterisation. Due to its universal applicability IDMS offers sufficient potential to follow future needs in analytical chemistry as well as in the RM sector.

Studies on Isotope Ratio Measurement of Cl by Inductively Coupled Plasma Triple-quad Mass Spectrometry

“…1, similar Cl isotope ratios were observed for 1 -10 mg kg -1 Cl standard solution and their relative standard deviations (%RSDs) obtained were 0.2 -0.5% which provided enough precisions for such studies as stable isotope tracers, 2,5,6 nuclear chemistry 7,8,10 and quantitative analysis of elements by IDMS. [23][24][25][26][27][28][29] The observed isotope ratios of ca. 2.83 revealed -9.6% deviation from the theoretical value of 3.13.…”

“…3,4,21,22 Isotope ratio measurement is also important for the production of accurate analytical results in trace element determinations by isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS). [23][24][25][26][27][28][29] Isotope ratio measurements have traditionally been carried out by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) 3,12,13,20,22 and by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). 4,8,14,20 Disciplines of IRMS are the ability to accurately and precisely measure variations in the abundance of isotope ratios of light elements such as H, C, N, O and S. On the other hand, TIMS can cover the whole range of elements from Li to U except for the gaseous elements measured by IRMS.…”

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isotope abundance measurements in nuclear chemistry 7,8,10 and the accurate determination by IDMS, [23][24][25][26][27][28][29] which require the precision of ca.

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Total synthesis of isotopically enriched Si-29 silica NPs as potential spikes for isotope dilution quantification of natural silica NPs

“…In analytical chemistry and biochemistry, where high accuracy is required, isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) is employed [9,10]. Elements with two or more stable isotopes may be quantified by IDMS, which uses an artificially enriched isotope (called spike) as an internal standard.…”

A calibration strategy for LA-ICP-MS using isotope dilution for solid reference materials

“…Detailed information about isotope dilution can be found in the literature. 31,34,35 For the calculation of the mass fraction of the analysed element in the sample, modied isotope dilution 31 formulae were used.…”