Improved Precision and Accuracy of Quantification of Rare Earth Element Abundances via Medium-Resolution LA-ICP-MS

• Published in: Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry Vol. 28; no. 11; pp. 2344 - 2351
• Main Authors: Funderburg, Rebecca, Arevalo, Ricardo, Locmelis, Marek, Adachi, Tomoko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.11.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: ABLATION; ACCURACY; Analytical Chemistry; Analyzers; Bioinformatics; Biotechnology; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; COLLISIONS; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; Confidence intervals; ELEMENT ABUNDANCE; GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES; Geology; GEOSCIENCES; ICP MASS SPECTROSCOPY; INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; Laser ablation; LASERS; MASS RESOLUTION; MASS SPECTRA; Mass spectrometry; Organic Chemistry; OXIDES; Proteomics; Rare earth elements; RARE EARTHS; Research Article; SENSITIVITY; Stations; Trace elements; Magnetic sector LA-ICP-MS; Laser ablation; Rare earth elements; Precision
• ISSN: 1044-0305; 1879-1123
• DOI: 10.1007/s13361-017-1745-5

Laser ablation ICP-MS enables streamlined, high-sensitivity measurements of rare earth element (REE) abundances in geological materials. However, many REE isotope mass stations are plagued by isobaric interferences, particularly from diatomic oxides and argides. In this study, we compare REE abundances quantitated from mass spectra collected with low-resolution (m/Δm = 300 at 5% peak height) and medium-resolution (m/Δm = 2500) mass discrimination. A wide array of geological samples was analyzed, including USGS and NIST glasses ranging from mafic to felsic in composition, with NIST 610 employed as the bracketing calibrating reference material. The medium-resolution REE analyses are shown to be significantly more accurate and precise (at the 95% confidence level) than low-resolution analyses, particularly in samples characterized by low (<μg/g levels) REE abundances. A list of preferred mass stations that are least susceptible to isobaric interferences is reported. These findings impact the reliability of REE abundances derived from LA-ICP-MS methods, particularly those relying on mass analyzers that do not offer tuneable mass-resolution and/or collision cell technologies that can reduce oxide and/or argide formation. Graphical Abstract ᅟ