Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry can be used as a powerful screening tool for the presence of toxic elements and chemicals in the environment. It has the ability to quickly and quantitatively screen many types of samples for toxic metals at ultratrace levels. When hyphenated with gas or liquid chromatography systems, it can also distinguish toxic from nontoxic species of most elements including radioactive forms. Using retention time locking and compound independent calibration, gas chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (GC-ICP-MS) has the potential to accurately identify and quantify a wide range of volatile toxic organic compounds without the necessity of possessing or analyzing standards for each target analyte. As such, when used in conjunction with other analytical techniques, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry can be a valuable tool in the arsenal against environmental terrorism.
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is presented as a powerful screening tool for detecting toxic elements and chemicals in the environment. The document highlights its ability to quickly and quantitatively screen samples for toxic metals at ultratrace levels and distinguishes toxic from nontoxic species when hyphenated with chromatography systems. This capability makes it a valuable tool against environmental terrorism.
The text details the principles of operation for the Agilent 7500 Series ICP-MS, explaining how the high-temperature argon plasma atomizes and ionizes samples. It covers the instrument's advantages, such as extreme sensitivity (part-per-trillion detection limits), selectivity, and simultaneous multi-element capability. The document also discusses simple sample preparation requirements and the use of isotope fingerprinting for positive identification of elements like lead and uranium.
| Detection Limits | part-per-trillion (ppt) or sub-ppt |
|---|---|
| Dynamic Range | nine orders of linear dynamic range |
| Plasma Temperature | 6000-10,000 °K |
| Sample Concentration Limit | total dissolved solids less than about 0.5% |
The only elements that are not directly measurable by ICP-MS are hydrogen, helium, neon, argon, and fluorine.
SemiQuant is a screening technique that measures composition and approximate concentration in a single analysis without previous knowledge of the sample or external calibration.