Instrumentation - Solution ICPMS
Our lab is equipped with a 1997 vintage of VG Elemental (now Thermo Corporation)
PlasmaQuad 3 quadrupole ICP mass spectrometer with enhanced sensitivity (S-Option),
shielded cool plasma (PlasmaScreen), 220 positions Gilson autosampler and online
dilution/hydride generation apparatus (PrepLab). The mass spectrometer is equipped
with a simultaneous (pulse counting/analogue) single SEM AF 214 detector that
allows measurements of a wide range of concentrations in automatic mode. The
data is processed in a Pentium 4 PC using Windows XP based PlasmaLab 2.0 data
acquisition software.
Solution mode of ICPMS is used for trace element analyses of environmental and
geological samples as well as for precise isotope ratio measurements. Detection
limits vary with sample matrix and analysed elements from low ppt up to several
tens of ppb (ppm). Precision of isotope ratio measurements can be as low as
0.2 - 0.3 %, subject to the isotopic abundances and sample matrix.
Close up of the torch box with the lit plasma.
VG PQ3 vacuum system consists of two rotary and two turbomolecular pumps.
Vacuum reach up to 10-9 bar in operate mode.
An example of reference materials.