Library

Notes: Abstract Thermal ionization isotope dilution mass spectrometry (TI-IDMS) was used as an oligo-element method for the determination of Cr, Cd and Pb in photographic AgCl emulsions. After addition of an appropriate amount of isotopically enriched spikes (53Cr, 116Cd and 206Pb) to the solid samples, the latter were completely dissolved in NH3 solution, permitting isotopic exchange to take place. Thereafter, AgCl was selectively removed by precipitation, whereby ultrasonic treatment was used to enhance the recovery of the elements of interest. Despite the use of concentrated HNO3 and H2O2 during further sample processing, preliminary experiments indicated the presence of a substantial remainder of the organic matrix (gelatine). Hence, the analytes of interest were isolated by means of electrolytic deposition on Pt electrodes. Subsequently, the deposits were dissolved from the Pt electrodes using a mixture of concentrated HNO3 and H2O2 and the solutions evaporated to dryness. The solid residues were taken up in diluted HNO3 and loaded onto Re filaments. In order to improve the ionization yield, prior to the sample, a silicagel suspension containing AlCl3 was loaded onto the filament and after sample loading, both H3BO3 (for Cr and Pb) and H3PO4 (for Cd and Pb) were added as further ionization aids. Finally, the isotope ratios of interest (52Cr/53Cr, 114Cd/116Cd and 206Pb/208Pb) were determined using thermal ionization mass spectrometry, whereby all three analyte elements were vaporized from the same filament. The limits of detection obtained using this procedure range from 0.4 ng (for Cd) to 4 ng (for Pb). Four different AgCl emulsions were analyzed. For Cr, the concentration found was quite similar for all emulsions analyzed, as it varied between ∼ 40 and ∼ 100 ng/g only. For Cd, very low values were found for all samples analyzed (≤ 3 ng/g). Finally, for Pb a much larger variation from ∼ 10 ng/g up to ∼ 5.5 μg/g was observed. For the sample with the highest Pb content, an excellent agreement could be established between the results obtained using quadrupole-based ICP-IDMS and those using TI-IDMS. For the determination of Cr by means of quadrupole-based ICP-IDMS, an instrument equipped with a ShieldTorch system was used to avoid spectral overlap of the 52Cr+ and 40Ar12C+ ion signals. Also in this case, the results obtained are in very good agreement with those obtained using TI-IDMS. The comparison between TI-IDMS and ICP-IDMS also made clear that sample inhomogeneity limits the between-sample precision attainable.

Notes: Abstract NAA and ICP-MS are both highly sensitive methods for multi-element trace-and ultra-trace element determination. A comparison between analytical figures of merit of both methods is made. Both methods have specific advantages that put them beyond competition for certain applications. It is concluded that ICP-MS can replace NAA for many routine analyses. NAA remains essential as a highly reliable and accurate reference method.

Notes: Abstract In the14C-dating by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) iron and copper oxide are used during sample preparation. In an investigation on the origin of the14C-blank, which in practice determines the dating limit of AMS, the carbon contamination was measured in both reagents by deuteron activation analysis via the12C(d,n)13N reaction. A first batch of iron was analysed radiochemically and a carbon concentration of 37.6 μg/g was found with a standard deviation of 2.7 μg/g (3 analyses). In a second batch of iron concentrations between 66 and 150 μg/g were found for 6 instrumental analyses, suggesting an inhomogeneous distribution of carbon. The carbon content in copper oxide was 17.8 (3.5) μg/g for 3 instrumental analyses, but preference should be given to a radiochemical analysis. These figures indicate that the carbon impurities found in iron and copper oxide are possible causes of the14C-blank. However, a final conclusion can only be drawn if the14C concentration of the contaminating carbon and the amount of carbon released during sample preparation are known.

Notes: Abstract The development and improvement of a gas chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry system, GC-ICP-MS, is described. The GC and ICP-MS are coupled with a heated stainless steel transfer line. Xe, present in the GC carrier gas, is used to facilitate the nebuliser gas flow rate setting and the positioning of the torch. Alkyltin compounds are separated by GC using a 30 m capillary column within 9 min. The necessity of applying double internal standardisation (use of Bu3PeSn and Xe gas as internal standards) is shown. The repeatabilities at 50 μg/l concentration for both retention time and peak are better than 0.25% and 5%, respectively. The detection limits for alkyltin compounds are better than those of existing methods and range between 15 and 35 fg Sn. Finally, GC-ICP-MS is applied to the determination of mono-, di- and tributyltin in some harbour waters, after extraction and Grignard derivation with PrMgCl. Concentrations between 1 and 20 ng/l are found.

Notes: Abstract A description is given of the experimental arrangement for thermospray nebulization of discrete liquid samples (100 μl) into an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The determination of ultratrace levels of platinum in environmental and biological materials is described. This method comprises an off-line sample enrichment by adsorptive chromatography, elution with ethanol and subsequent analysis of the evaporated eluate. The quantification of the concentration was performed with isotope dilution. The recovery, precision, accuracy and detection limit of the method are discussed.

Notes: Abstract Results of a systematic study concerning non-spectral interferences observed with a commercially available high resolution ICP-mass spectrometer are reported and compared to observations made with a quadrupole-based instrument. In general, matrix effects were observed to be to a large extent comparable for both instruments used. In all cases, the matrix-induced signal suppression or enhancement was seen to depend in a regular way on the mass number of the nuclides monitored. In most cases, the ionization potential of the nuclides has little or no influence on the extent of suppression or enhancement. For As, Se and Te, the introduction of 2.5% ethanol, 0.5 mol/l H2SO4, or to a lesser extent 0.5 mol/l H3PO4, leads to an exceptional increase in the signal intensity for both instruments. Registration of signal behaviour plots (signal intensity as a function of the nebulizer gas flow rate) in different matrices revealed that both the height of the plot and the optimum nebulizer gas flow rate are a function of the matrix composition. Finally, no indication was found that the acceleration of the extracted ions over 8000 V with the high resolution instrument would lead to an alleviation of space charge effects when compared to a quadrupole-based ICP-mass spectrometer.