Using Double Mass Selection and Reaction Cell Gases to Resolve Isobaric Spectral Overlaps in ICP-MS

Collision-reaction cell methods are now almost universally accepted in quadrupole inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) applications. Helium collision mode provides dramatic improvements in detection limits and accuracy of quantitation for many elements by reducing the relative trans...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSpectroscopy (Springfield, Or.) Vol. 33; no. s9; pp. 26 - 34
Main Authors McCurdy, Ed, Woods, Glenn
Format Magazine Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Monmouth Junction MultiMedia Healthcare Inc 01.09.2018
Subjects
Detection
Detection limits
Emission spectroscopy
Gases
Helium
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Ions
Isotopes
Mass spectrometry
Mass spectroscopy
Organic chemistry
Quadrupoles
Quantitation
Scientific imaging
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Summary:Collision-reaction cell methods are now almost universally accepted in quadrupole inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) applications. Helium collision mode provides dramatic improvements in detection limits and accuracy of quantitation for many elements by reducing the relative transmission of polyatomic ions compared to the monatomic analyte ions that they overlap. However, spectral interferences that are not caused by polyatomic ions cannot be controlled effectively using helium collision mode. One important example is isobaric overlaps, where isotopes of two different elements occur at the same mass. Reactive cell gases can provide a solution to isobaric overlaps if a gas is selected that reacts quickly with one of the isobaric elements and slowly, or not at all, with the other. This approach, termed "chemical resolution," allows the target isotope to be resolved from the overlapping isobar. To control the reaction chemistry and to ensure that only the intended product ions are measured, an additional mass selection step (before the collision/reaction cell) is essential. This is achieved using a tandem mass spectrometry system (ICP-MS/MS), such as a triple-quadrupole configuration. In this work, we present application examples where ICP-MS/MS was used to separate isobaric overlaps, allowing accurate analysis to be performed.
ISSN:0887-6703
1939-1900