​HRSICPMS

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ICP-MS means inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We have a Thermo Scientific Element 2 for quantitative analysis of trace and ultra trace elements and isotope ratios in geological and non-geological samples.
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is mainly used for rapid, precise and accurate trace (<1000 ppm) element determinations in liquid and solid samples, but other applications include isotopic determinations and speciation studies. The power of modern ICP-MS resides in its ability to rapidly measure trace elements at very low detection limits (to sub parts per trillion levels) as well as minor and major elements (at parts per million levels) in the same analytical run on suitably diluted samples.

Besides the He noble gas mass-spectrometry laboratory (see above), the facility also the Thermo Element2 HR-ICP-MS instrument in a dedicated and fully-renovated laboratory space with climate control, centrally-piped chilled water, and centrally-distributed Ar gas for ICP-MS operation.



How the ICP-MS works



The sample material is introduced into the spectrometer as an aerosol by argon carrier gas (for solution) or an Ar/He mixture for laser ablation. Aerosol particles are generated either by nebulizing a sample solution or by ablating solid material with a laser. When carried through the hot plasma (up to 8000 °C), the sample material is dissociated, atomized and ionized within milliseconds.
The ions enter the mass spectrometer via the plasma interface, after which they are mass- and energy-filtered and the intensities at Individual masses are determined.

The Element2 is a high-resolution, double focusing ICP mass spectrometer with very high sensitivity. Practical limits of detection are on the order of 1 ppt (= 1 part per trillion) for many elements and are generally better than 100 ppt. The Element2 has three resolution modes: low (resolution = 300), medium (resolution = 4,000), and high (resolution = 10,000). Medium and high resolution modes provide separation of the analyte signal from spectral interferences, making accurate and precise elemental analysis of trace element in complex matrices possible. The ion beam passes through a magnetic field generated by a large magnet.
The magnetic field is dispersive with respect to ion energy and mass. The second focusing occurs at the electro-static analyzer or ESA. The ESA is dispersive with respect to ion energy and focuses the ion beam through the exit slit to the detector.



Specifications

Sensitivity: > 1 x 109 cps/ppm for In
Detection Limits: < 1 ppq (theoretical, non-interfered)
Dark Noise: < 0.2 cps
Dynamic Range: > 109 linear



Element2 HR-ICP-MS is use on a daily basis for solution analyses, primarily for (U-Th)/He dating. Following He degassing, samples are analyzed for U-Th. The precision and sensitivity of the instrument allow the performance of U, Th isotopic analyses to better than 0.1% RSD. Calibration curves of the Rare Earth Elements (REE) are being performed to validate the method. This instrument was funded by São Paulo Research Foundation (Fapesp) (award to Peter C. Hackspacher).
Prospective Ph.D. and M.S. research and postdoctoral researchers who wish to work on research topics in geochronology, crustal evolution, geochemistry, metamorphic petrology, please contact Antônio José Ranalli Nardy and Peter C. Hackspacher (link to homepage (http://www.rc.unesp.br/igce/petro/docentes.php). Requests for collaboration and analytical services will also be welcome from academic as well as industrial customers.