The inductively coupled plasma is an ionisation source at atmospheric pressure where the incoming sample is atomised and ionised.
The ions formed are passed to the mass spectrometer where they are separated according to their charge/mass ratio. Each mass arriving at the detector is analysed to determine its abundance in the sample.
Characteristics
- Enables multi-elemental determination of most of the elements of the periodic system.
- Allows the measurement of isotope ratios.
- Allows coupling of separation techniques such as HPLC.
- Detection limits of a few ppb-ppt are achieved for most elements.
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The most frequent areas of application are: environment, geology, soil science, geochemistry, petrochemistry, metallurgy, archaeology, biomedicine, forensic science, food and pharmacy.
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The table shows typical detection limits (DL), with and without LRC gas, for some of the elements that can be quantified by this technique:
Non CRI*
with CRI, H2 no separator
Isotopes
DL (ng/L)
DL (ng/L)
BEC (ng/L)
9Be
3
0.5
1.1
23Na
200
13
252
24Mg
2
0.5
4.7
25Mg
5
1
5.3
27Al
2.0
0.8
7.9
39K.
500
43
328
40Ca
-
3
23
44Ca
500
7
81
49Ti
3
1
3.2
51 V
3
0.2
1.7
52Cr
8
0.6
13
53Cr
3
1.5
23
55Mn
2
0.4
10
56Fe
4000
2
167
57Fe
300
44
2146
59Co
0.2
0.2
0.8
60Ni
2
10
68
63Cu
0.3
1
5.3
65Cu
2
1
7.0
66Zn
5
2
15
68Zn
20
1
17
75As
20
0.6
2.2
78Se
400
2
26
80Se
-
9
193
98Mo
0.4
0.7
2.7
107Ag
0.6
0.2
1.2
111Cd
0.2
0.2
0.2
206, 7, 8Pb
0.3
0.1
1.9
232Th
0.04
0.08
0.9
238U
0.06
0.01
0.07
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The samples must be in solution and suitably filtered.
The amount of sample required for analysis will depend on the number of elements to be measured, but 10 mL is generally sufficient.
In the case of solid samples, where an acid attack has to be performed, there is a mill, microwave and digester for sample preparation.
Before sending samples, the service technician should be contacted to check the availability of the device.
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Unidade de Análise Instrumental
- Edificio de Apoio á Investigación (CACTUS) Lugo
- Campus Lugo s/n, 27002Lugo
- 982 822 816 (Responsable da Unidade)
- 982 822 818