Improved detection sensitivity for heavy trace elements using a miniature laser ablation ionisation mass spectrometer

Wiesendanger, Reto; Tulej, Marek; Riedo, Andreas; Frey, Samira; Shea, H.; Wurz, Peter (2017). Improved detection sensitivity for heavy trace elements using a miniature laser ablation ionisation mass spectrometer. Journal of analytical atomic spectrometry, 32(11), pp. 2182-2188. Royal Society of Chemistry 10.1039/C7JA00193B

	Text c7ja00193b.pdf - Published Version Restricted to registered users only Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (873kB)
	Text 07-0003-2-0 Improved detection sensitivity for heavy trace elements using a miniature laser ablation ionisation mass spectrometer.pdf - Published Version Restricted to registered users only Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (775kB)

Laser ablation ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry is a versatile technique to obtain highly sensitive measurement of the elements and isotope composition of solid materials. Because of the measurements of nearly all elements in the sample, large ion rates of abundant elements may reduce the detection efficiency for heavier elements arriving later at the detector system. If this occurs, it will affect the capability of quantitative measurements of heavy species. We demonstrate that by implementation of a short highvoltage (HV) pulse, we can remove the high rate ions that reduce the detection efficiency of the ion detector to measure trace elements, which otherwise would not be detectable. The location of a suitable electrode in the given ion optical system, the timing and the pulse shape were determined with the help of numerical ion trajectory simulations using the SIMION software. An HV pulse removes ions of lighter elements, including Na, K, and Mg from the analysed ion beam, which are typically the most abundant species in rocks and soils, allowing sensitive analysis of heavy trace elements. Using standard NIST reference materials we determined detection limits in the sub-ppm range and accomplished isotope ratio measurements of Pb with an accuracy in the per mill range. Further investigations of trace elements of the KREEP material in a lunar sample demonstrate that the miniature LIMS system can be used for in situ analysis of rocks and soils, and for investigations of geological processes and dating.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

8 since deposited on 13 Nov 2017
0 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item