Fundamental studies in ICP/MS: Laser ablation and ion trap investigations

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:191711

Koppenaal, D W; Alexander, M L; Barinaga, C J ^[1]

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1. Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, WA (United States); and others

Fundamental investigation in ICP/MS have focused on two areas at Pacific Northwest Laboratory during the last several years. First, for remote radioanalytical use potential, a flexible and versatile LA-ICP/MS system has been assembled to investigate solid aerosol compositions as a function of wavelength, pulse energy, pulse length, focus, and beam profile. Particle size composition of the aerosol is also examined. The Nd:YAG based system provides four wavelengths of operation from the UV to the IR (266, 355, 532, 1064 nm). To date, the shorter wavelengths have provided the best and most consistent laser ablation results. However, numerous idiosyncracies and problems are apparent at all wavelengths for analyzing highly complex and varying samples. Secondly, the authors have pioneered investigations using ICP ion sources with ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS); two ICP/ITMS instruments have been built and characterized. The first system uses a conventional linear quadrupole as an intermediate mass filter and the second is a direct ICP-to-trap configuration. Work with the former system has indicated dramatic reductions in traditional polyatomic and plasma ion interferences while achieving detection limits in the low ppt range. The latter direct system, using broadband excitation for dynamic rejection of plasma and matrix ions, should provide improved analytical sensitivity and dynamic range for the ICP/ITMS approach. Early problems with water and hydroxyl adduct ions have been largely circumvented. Both laser ablation and ion trap MS investigations indicate continued promise for and use of these techniques for trace elemental analysis.

• OSTI ID: 191711
• Report Number(s): CONF-941098--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

40 CHEMISTRY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABLATION
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
AEROSOLS
ELEMENTS
ICP MASS SPECTROSCOPY
LASER RADIATION
PARTICLE SIZE
TRACE AMOUNTS