Analysis and speciation of lanthanoids by ICP-MS

Telgmann L.; Lindner U.; Lingott J.; Jakubowski N.

Research article (book contribution)

Abstract

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is based on the formation of positively charged atomic ions in a high-frequency inductively coupled argon plasma at atmospheric pressure. The ions are extracted and transferred from the plasma source into a mass analyzer operated at a high vacuum via an interface equipped with sampling and skimmer cones. The ions are separated in the mass analyzer according to their mass to charge ratio. The ions are converted at a conversion dynode and are detected by use of a secondary electron multiplier or a Faraday cup. From an analytical point of view, ICP-MS is a well-established technique for multi-elemental analysis in particular for elements at trace- and ultra-trace levels. Furthermore, methods based on ICP-MS offer simple quantification concepts, for which usually (liquid) standards are applied, low matrix effects compared to other conventional analytical techniques, and relative limits of detection (LODs) in the low pg g-1 (part per trillion, ppt) range and absolute LODs down to the attomolar range. For these applications, ICP-MS excels by a high sensitivity which is independent of the molecular structure and a wide linear dynamic range. It has found acceptance in various application areas and during the last decade, ICP-MS is being more and more applied for the detection of rare earth elements particularly in the life sciences. Due to the fact that all molecules introduced into the high temperature of the plasma in the ion source were completely dissociated and broken down into atoms, which are subsequently ionized, all elemental species information is completely lost. However, if the different species are separated before they enter the plasma by using adequate fractionation or separation techniques, then ICP-MS can be used as a very sensitive element-specific detector. In this chapter, a more detailed discussion of this feature of ICP-MS will be presented with emphasis on the speciation of gadolinium-containing contrast agents.

Details zur Publikation

Publisher: Golloch, Alfred
Book title: Handbook of Rare Earth Elements: Analytics 2nd revised and extended edition
Release year: 2017
Publishing company: De Gruyter
ISBN: 9783110696363
Language in which the publication is written: English
Event: Berlin
Link to the full text: https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85143470685