This application brief describes a method for the semiquantitative analysis of glass fragments using laser ablation ICP-MS. The method can rapidly and accurately identify glass fragments, and requires no other chemical reagents.
The document details a method utilizing the Agilent 4500 ICP-MS and LSX-100 laser ablation system to characterize glass fragments. This approach provides rapid, semiquantitative elemental analysis that generates unique fingerprint patterns for sample identification with minimal sample preparation.
Key advantages of this technique include negligible sample consumption, which allows remaining samples for further testing, and the elimination of extensive digestion procedures required by traditional methods. The method relies on elemental ratios to create distinct fingerprints using specific elements such as aluminum, barium, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, strontium, titanium, and zirconium.
The nine elements identified are aluminum, barium, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, strontium, titanium and zirconium.
The whole sample preparation process was less than 3 minutes, involving washing with double distilled water, sonication for one minute, and drying with isopropyl alcohol.
No, the use of elemental ratios eliminates the need for quantitative calibration of the ICP-MS instrument.