Putting a spin on LA-ICPMS analysis combined with isotope dilution

Published

January 11, 2013

Author(s)

John L. Molloy, Stephen E. Long, Fanny Claverie, Julian Malherbe, Naomi Bier

Abstract

The determination of Zn, Sr, Ba and Pb in solid samples has been achieved by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-IDMS) using a spinning sampling platform. The fast rotation of a sample and an isotopically enriched standard placed close together on a sample holder allowed performing the isotope dilution directly inside the ablation cell. The proportion of standard versus sample of the aerosol mixture obtained has been determined online by isotope dilution in order to correct for differences in ablation rate, although both materials were placed on the axis of rotation of the motor. Homogeneous, time stable and reusable samples were prepared by lithium borate fusion. A unique isotopically enriched standard was used to analyze five Standard Reference Materials (SRM) of different matrix (after a simple polishing): two sediments SRM 1944 and SRM 2702, and two soils SRM 2586 and SRM 2711a. The proposed method yielded concentrations with a deviation from the certified value better than 12 % and a precision of less than 9 % (except for Zn in SRM 2586 and 2711a). Those results demonstrated the potential of this developed method for the fast and direct analysis of solid samples using isotope dilution at a low cost.

Citation

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

Volume

405

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

isotope dilution, laser ablation, elemental analysis, ICPMS

Citation

Molloy, J. , Long, S. , Claverie, F. , Malherbe, J. and Bier, N. (2013), Putting a spin on LA-ICPMS analysis combined with isotope dilution, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (Accessed May 11, 2025)