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Determination of ultratrace elements in limited volume samples by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
Abstract
Different methods of sample introduction for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) when a limited volume of a sample is available were investigated in this research. The methods include pneumatic nebulization, recirculating nebulization (RN) systems (internal pneumatic nebulization), flow injection (FI), and ultrasonic nebulization (USN). All these sample introduction methods for ICP-MS were tested for their usefulness for quantitative and semi-quantitative analyses and isotopic ratio measurements. Samples as small as 0.250 mL can be analyzed for a few minutes, and 1 mL of a sample can be analyzed for over 60 minutes when RN-ICP-MS is employed. This time allows either a semi-quantitative analysis or isotopic ratio measurements to be performed. Flow injection was found to be a reliable method for quantitative analysis performed in a sample-to-standard addition mode. Testing of a prototype of an ultrasonic nebulization system demonstrated the potential of this technique, as a result of its superior sensitivity compared to pneumatic nebulization. However, some modifications of the design are necessary to improve the USN performance as a method of sample introduction for ICP-MS.
Subject Area
Analytical chemistry
Recommended Citation
Bakowska, Elzbieta, "Determination of ultratrace elements in limited volume samples by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry" (1990). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9110100.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9110100