Use of ICP‒MS for Isotope Ratio Measurements

From volcanic rock powder to Sr and Pb isotope ratios: a fit-for-purpose procedure for multi-collector ICP–mass spectrometric analysis

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Part of our research into the geochemistry and petrology of the South Aegean arc for example, involves isotopic fingerprinting of the different sources contributing to the final geochemical signature of the arc magmas. Sr and Pb isotope ratios therefore need to be determined for a large collection of volcanic rocks, ranging from basaltic andesites to rhyodacites.…”

Comparative Studies Involving Transgenic and Non-Transgenic Soybean: What is Going On?

“…In these studies stable isotopic tracers with an isotopic composition sufficiently different from the corresponding natural one is added to the studied system and changes in the selected isotope ratio monitored. The absorption or bioavailability of an element can be determined with this approach as well as information about element redistribution over various compartments of an organism [118][119]. According to our knowledge, no tracer study for essential or toxic metals evaluating transgenic and non-transgenic soybean is found in the literature and therefore there is a great amount of work to perform in this challenging area.…”

“…Since the isotopes present the same number of electrons, they show basically the same chemical behavior. However, there is a small discrepancy in their physicochemical behavior due to the mass difference, which may leave isotopes of the same element to take part with slightly different efficiencies in physical processes or (bio)chemical reactions, and, consequently, to result in variations in the isotopic composition [118][119]. These differences in efficiency are associated to a minor distinction in equilibrium for each different isotopic molecule -thermodynamic effect or in the rate with which the isotopes participate in a process or reaction -kinetic effect.…”

Determination of total content and isotopic compositions of plutonium and uranium in environmental samples for safeguards purposes by ICP-QMS

“…However, in order to effectively achieve an accreditation, the same should be demonstrated with respect to total uranium content and isotopic composition determination. Quadrupole ICP-MS has been successfully used to determine both uranium content and isotopic ratios in environmental samples; notwithstanding, in order to obtain high precision 234 U/ 238 U and 236 U/ 238 U atomic ratio measurements, a careful chemical separation and optimization of ICP-MS operational conditions are needed Ghersini, 1975;Halicz et al, 2006;Horwitz et al, 1992;Ketterer et al, 2000;Kraemer et al, 2002;Magara et al, 2002;Policke et al, 1998;Tagami and Uchida, 2007;Uchida et al, 2000;Vanhaecke et al, 2007;Zheng et al, 2004;Zheng and Yamada, 2006).…”

“…IAEA safeguard network laboratory requirements and statements related to both uranium and plutonium total content and isotopic composition determinations are (IAEA, 2005): 1) 10% accuracy for total plutonium content and 240 Pu/ 239 Pu ratio at 0.1 ng of Pu level; 2) 10% accuracy for total uranium content and 234 U/ 238 U and 236 U/ 238 U ratios, and a 1% accuracy for 235 U/ 238 U at 10 ng of U level; 3) Be able to determine 240 Pu/ 239 Pu ratio between 0.001 and 1; 4) Be able to determine 235 U/ 238 U ratio between 0.001 and 17, 234 U/238U ratio between 0.00002 and 0.01, and 236 U/ 238 U ratio between 0.00001 and 0.01; 5) Reach a blank level of Pu 10 fg/swipe; 6) Reach a blank level of U between 0.1 and 5 ng/swipe; Several publications in the literature deal with either the determination of the plutonium isotope ratio and isotope concentration by ICP-MS (see, for example, the review published by Kim et al, 2007) or with the determination of the total uranium concentration or isotope ratio Ghersini, 1975;Halicz et al, 2006;Horwitz et al, 1992;Ketterer et al, 2000;Kraemer et al, 2002;Magara et al, 2002;Policke et al, 1998;Tagami and Uchida, 2007;Uchida et al, 2000;Vanhaecke et al, 2007;Zheng and Yamada, 2006). But there are relatively few publications related to the simultaneous determination of both uranium and plutonium isotope ratios and isotope concentrations determination by ICP-MS, much less starting from a single environmental sample aliquot Truscott et al, 2001).…”