The Bruker ICP-MS – a Versatile
Tool for Sensitive and
Interference Free Analysis of
Different Matrices
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Applications for ICP-MS
Environmental
Waters Analysis
• Drinking water
• Effluents from industrial sites
Sea Water Analysis
• Most elements at ultra-trace levels
Soil, Sediment and Land Site
Contamination
• Trace and toxic elements
• Samples digested/leached in acids
Agriculture and Food
Food safety
• Toxic elements Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr, As
Plants, Herbs
Fertilizer, Animal Feed
Food, Fruits and Beverages
• Toxic, essential and macrominerals
• Meats, Crops, Milk, Tea, Wine, Juice
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Applications for ICP-MS
Clinical research
Bloods, Serums, Urine, Tissues
• Complex matrix, viscous
• High levels of C, S, P, Na, Mg,
Fe, Cl
Trace, Toxic and Nutritional
Geochemical Applications
Soils
• As, Pb, Tl, Th, Cd, Cr
• Digestion required
• Se, Cu, Mn, Au, Pt
• High TDS & matrix
• I, Hg
Rocks, Ceramics, Fly ash, Coal
• Possibly crushed & fused
• Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, S, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn
Minerals and precious metals prospecting
• Gold and the PGEs (Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ir and Os)
• Rare earth elements at trace levels
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Applications for ICP-MS
Other Applications
Industrial
• Cement and building products
Nuclear
• Cooling water (10B/11B)
• Isotope ratios
Forensic
• Gun powder residues
Gold Characterization
• Purity
• Element fingerprinting
to infer the origin of the material
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Diagram of ICP-MS Operations
Sample
Vacuum
Detector
Mass Analyser
Data Process
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Ion Source
ICP-MS
Sample Preparation – Introduction
Liquid samples
•
Viscous samples
(dilute), run
•
Suspensions
•
dilute, run
Powders and Solids
filtrate/digest, run
•
digest (microwave), run
P.G. A.G.
Sample Flow
N.G.
P.G. – Plasma Gas
S.G.
A.G. – Auxiliary Gas
N.G. – Nebulizer Gas
S.G. – Sheath Gas
To Waste
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High Performance Ion Optics
90 degree ion mirror
• Increased efficiency and sensitivity
• Reduced contamination
• Improved long term signal stability
• Simplified operation
• Maintenance-free
Curved entrance rods
• Double off axis quadrupole
• Removes excited neutrals
before they reach the
quadrupole
• Lowest possible backgrounds
• Better detection limits
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Ion Optics – working principle
Ions
7
Neutrals
6
Photons
4
1.
Extract lens-1
2
5
2.
Extract lens-2
3.
Extract lens-3
4.
Corner Lens
5.
Mirror lens (L, R, B)
6.
Entrance Lens
7.
Entrance Plate
1
3
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Bruker ICP-MS - Low Noise Quadrupol
1
1
Entrance lense
2
S-shaped pre-Quadrupol
3
3 MHz Quadrupol
2
3
Schematic of the Detector Operation
Gain Control
Quadrupole
+
ee-
e-
e-
Signal
Output
Amplification
Ion to eConversion
Control
Section
The detector coverts ions into electrical pulses. Adjustment of voltage
applied to control dynode provides attenuation of final output signal.
10
9 Orders Linear Dynamic Range
1 GHz
1000000000
Ca-Conc.
100000000
10000000
1 MHz
1000000
100000
10000
K-ConC.
U - 1 ppb
1000
100
Cd - Limit TVO
5 ppb
10
1
Normal-sensitivityMode
10
ppt
100
ppt
1
ppb
10
ppb
100
ppb
1
ppm
10
ppm
100
ppm
0.1
%
1
%
Interference Management
The CRI Technology
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Spectral Interferences in ICP-MS
CRI reduce/remove common plasma based interferences
Element
Isotope
Calcium
40Ca
40Ar+
Vanadium
51V
16O35Cl+
Chromium
52Cr
40Ar12C+
Iron
56Fe
40Ar16O+
Arsenic
75As
40Ar35Cl+
Selenium
78Se
40Ar38Ar+
80Se
40Ar40Ar+
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Interfering ion
CRI – Collision Reaction Interface
• Operates on the plasma, NOT the ion beam
• Uses similar chemistry to collision cells, but under
very different conditions of temperature and
pressure
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CRI Simple and Effective
Simple collision and reaction gases (He
and H2) are injected into the plasma
as it passes through the cones…
Interferences are attenuated, allowing
lower detection limits and better
accuracy for ‘difficult’ elements.
e.g. As, Se, V, Cr, Ca, Fe, etc.
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New and Improved CRI II
Universal Mode
• CRI in ‘All He mode’ for all elements
• Faster and simpler methodology
Caters to future USEPA 200.8
requirements
Nitrox 500 for online addition of N2 improves As & Se detection limits
Multi-mode
• Using optimal CRI conditions for more
complex matrices (H2, He)
• Clinical, semi-conductor, geochemical,
etc…
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Fe-analysis in Ca-matrix with CRI - H2
CaO (and ArO) interference on Fe
Bruker Quantum, ICP-MS Software
•
•
Integrated LC-ICP-MS
Integratede LA-ICP-MS
Aerosol dilution
Minimizes sample preparation by extending matrix tolerance
of ICP-MS
• For samples containing 0.2 to 4% Total Dissolved Solids
Eg. seawater contains ~3.5% TDS
• Inline dilution via detuning of nebulizer efficiency &
sheath gas dilution effect
• Achieve 10-fold dilution without additional sample prep
• Suitable for seawater, metals and mining, high TDS
effluents
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Auto-optimization of Aerosol Dilution
Two dilution settings
• Low dilution
5-fold dilution
Samples with ~1-2% TDS
Metals and mining, effluents
• High dilution
10-fold dilution
Samples with ~2-4% TDS
 Seawater
5-fold reduction in oxide
interferences
 Rare Earths
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Typical Analysis Settings
More efficient
nebulization
0.8-1.1 L/min
0.1-0.3 L/min
Low gas dilution
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Aerosol Dilution Settings
Less efficient
nebulization
0.1-0.3 L/min
0.8-1.1 L/min
High gas dilution
Followed by automatic optimization of ion optic settings
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Seawater Analysis using Aerosol Dilution
% Recovery of 10ug/L multi-element spiked into undiluted seawater
100%
0%
% Recovery
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56Fe
75As
78Se
52Cr
59Co
68Zn
114Cd
Pb
105%
109%
99%
109%
92%
95%
110%
101%
08.04.2015
New! Nitrox 500 Gas Accessory
Add N2 or O2 online to auxiliary gas
0-500 mL/min, computer controlled
N2 for improved sensitivity and reduced
interferences on As & Se
• 3-4 times sensitivity improvement
• lower DL’s for enviro applications
Effects of Nitrogen Addition
2500
2000
1500
1000
O2 for organic solvents
• petrochemical applications
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500
0
N2 OFF
N2 ON
As75
Se78
Summary
Unmatched Sensitivity
All-digital Detection System
• Only detector to offer 109 working range in pulsecounting (digital) mode.
• High efficiency ion mirror
• Excellent detection limits
• Attractive to laser ablation and niche application
markets
Simplified Interference Management
• No cross-calibration of digital-analog modes
required
Low Maintenance Design
• Innovative Collision-Reaction Interface (CRI)
• Hollow ion mirror design requires no cleaning
• Removes interferences at plasma
interface, not the ion beam
• No need for additional cleaning / replace of
interference management technology
• Simplified setup and maintenance
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www.bruker.com
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For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.