Improved detection sensitivity for heavy trace elements using a miniature laser ablation ionisation mass spectrometer

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 2182-2188 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Wiesendanger ◽  
M. Tulej ◽  
A. Riedo ◽  
S. Frey ◽  
H. Shea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Laser Ablation ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Detection Sensitivity ◽  
Laser Spectrometer ◽  
Lunar Meteorite ◽  
Ionisation Mass ◽  
Ionisation Mass Spectrometer

Detecting heavy trace elements with a miniature laser spectrometer on a lunar meteorite.

A laser ablation resonance ionisation mass spectrometer (LA-RIMS) for the detection of isotope ratios of uranium at ultra-trace concentrations from solid particles and solutions

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 1630-1638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilya Strashnov ◽  
Igor Izosimov ◽  
Jamie D. Gilmour ◽  
Melissa Anne Denecke ◽  
Jose Almiral ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Ablation ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Tunable Laser ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Uranium Isotope ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Ultra Trace ◽  
Trace Concentrations ◽  
Ionisation Mass ◽  
Ionisation Mass Spectrometer

A commercial MALDI mass spectrometer coupled with a tunable laser ionisation system can be used for the detection of uranium isotope ratios at trace levels.

scholarly journals Measurements of hydroperoxy radicals (HO<sub>2</sub>) at atmospheric concentrations using bromide chemical ionisation mass spectrometry

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 891-902 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sascha R. Albrecht ◽  
Anna Novelli ◽  
Andreas Hofzumahaus ◽  
Sungah Kang ◽  
Yare Baker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapour ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Ion Source ◽  
Detection Sensitivity ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Integration Time ◽  
Key Species ◽  
Atmospheric Concentrations ◽  
Chemical Ionisation ◽  
Ionisation Mass

Abstract. Hydroxyl and hydroperoxy radicals are key species for the understanding of atmospheric oxidation processes. Their measurement is challenging due to their high reactivity; therefore, very sensitive detection methods are needed. Within this study, the measurement of hydroperoxy radicals (HO2) using chemical ionisation combined with a high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer (Aerodyne Research Inc.) employing bromide as the primary ion is presented. The sensitivity reached is equal to 0.005×108 HO2 cm−3 for 106 cps of bromide and 60 s of integration time, which is below typical HO2 concentrations found in the atmosphere. The detection sensitivity of the instrument is affected by the presence of water vapour. Therefore, a water-vapour-dependent calibration factor that decreases approximately by a factor of 2 if the water vapour mixing ratio increases from 0.1 % to 1.0 % needs to be applied. An instrumental background, most likely generated by the ion source that is equivalent to a HO2 concentration of (1.5±0.2)×108 molecules cm−3, is subtracted to derive atmospheric HO2 concentrations. This background can be determined by overflowing the inlet with zero air. Several experiments were performed in the atmospheric simulation chamber SAPHIR at the Forschungszentrum Jülich to test the instrument performance in comparison to the well-established laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique for measurements of HO2. A highly linear correlation coefficient of R2=0.87 is achieved. The slope of the linear regression of 1.07 demonstrates the good absolute agreement of both measurements. Chemical conditions during experiments allowed for testing the instrument's behaviour in the presence of atmospheric concentrations of H2O, NOx, and O3. No significant interferences from these species were observed. All of these facts demonstrate a reliable measurement of HO2 by the chemical ionisation mass spectrometer presented.

scholarly journals On Applicability of a Miniaturised Laser Ablation Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer for Trace Elements Measurements

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Tulej ◽  
Andreas Riedo ◽  
Maria Iakovleva ◽  
Peter Wurz
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Laser Ablation ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Plasma Chemistry ◽  
Isotopic Analysis ◽  
Radiometric Dating ◽  
Spectrometric Analysis ◽  
Laser Irradiance ◽  
Depth Analysis

We present results from mass spectrometric analysis of NIST standard materials and meteoritic samples conducted by a miniaturised laser ablation mass spectrometer designed for space research. The mass analyser supports investigation with a mass resolution () ≈ 500–600 and dynamic range within seven decades. Nevertheless, to maintain an optimal spectral quality laser irradiances lower than ~1 GW/cm2 are applied so far which results in a spread of RSC values. To achieve the quantitative performance of mass analyser, various effects influencing RSC factors have to be investigated. In this paper we investigate influence of laser irradiance, sampling procedure and plasma chemistry on the quantitative elemental and isotopic analysis. The studies indicate necessity for accurate control of laser characteristics and acquisition procedure. A relatively low irradiance applied causes a negligible sample damage and allows for accumulation of large number of waveforms from one sample location. The procedure yields statistically well averaged data and allows a sensitive in-depth analysis. The quantitative analyses of isotopic composition can be performed with accuracy and precision better as 1% and 2%, for isotopic patterns of elements and clusters, respectively. The numerical integration methods would be preferred to achieve more accurate results. The measurements of Allende sample yield detection of Pb isotopic pattern, nevertheless cluster species are readily observed in spectrum and make the elemental analysis of other trace elements difficult due to isobaric interferences. These detections are of a considerable interest because of possible application of the instrument for in situ elemental and isotopic analysis and radiometric dating of solids.

scholarly journals Isotope ratios determination of uranium in soil samples affected due to Chernobyl accident using thermal ionisation mass spectrometer

2002 ◽  
Vol 37 (C1) ◽  
pp. C1-951-C1-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. Sahoo ◽  
K. Shiraishi ◽  
S. Kimura ◽  
A. Masuda ◽  
I. P. Los ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Chernobyl Accident ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Ionisation Mass ◽  
Ionisation Mass Spectrometer

scholarly journals Airborne observations of formic acid using a chemical ionisation mass spectrometer

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 5807-5835 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Le Breton ◽  
M. R. McGillen ◽  
J. B. A. Muller ◽  
A. Bacak ◽  
D. E. Shallcross ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Formic Acid ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Lower Boundary ◽  
Standard Addition ◽  
Airborne Measurements ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Chemical Ionisation ◽  
Ionisation Mass ◽  
Ionisation Mass Spectrometer

Abstract. The first airborne measurements of formic acid mixing ratios over the United Kingdom were measured on the FAAM BAe-146 research aircraft on the 16 March 2010 with a chemical ionisation mass spectrometer using I− reagent ions. The I− ionisation scheme was able to measure formic acid mixing ratios at 1 Hz in the lower boundary layer. In-flight standard addition calibrations from a formic acid source were used to determine the instrument sensitivity of 35±6 ion counts pptv−1 s−1 and a limit of detection of 25 pptv. Routine measurements were made through a scrubbed inlet to determine the instrumental background. Three plumes of formic acid were observed over the UK, originating from London, Humberside and Tyneside. The London plume had the highest formic acid mixing ratio throughout the flight, peaking at 358 pptv. No significant correlations of formic acid with NOx and Ozone were found. A trajectory model was employed to determine the sources of the plumes and compare modelled mixing ratios with measured values. The model underestimated formic acid concentrations by up to a factor of 2. This is explained by missing sources in the model, considered to be primary emissions of formic acid of mainly anthropogenic origin and lack of precursor emissions, such as isoprene, from biogenic sources.

scholarly journals Airborne hydrogen cyanide measurements using a chemical ionisation mass spectrometer for the plume identification of biomass burning forest fires

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 5649-5685 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Le Breton ◽  
A. Bacak ◽  
J. B. A. Muller ◽  
S. J. O'Shea ◽  
P. Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Hydrogen Cyanide ◽  
Global Emission ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Research Aircraft ◽  
Chemical Ionisation ◽  
Ionisation Mass ◽  
Ionisation Mass Spectrometer

Abstract. A Chemical Ionisation Mass Spectrometer (CIMS) was developed for measuring hydrogen cyanide (HCN) from biomass burning events in Canada using I− reagent ions on board the FAAM BAe-146 research aircraft during the BORTAS campaign in 2011. The ionisation scheme enabled highly sensitive measurements at 1 Hz frequency through biomass burning plumes in the troposphere. A strong correlation between the HCN, carbon monoxide (CO) and acetonitrile (CH3CN) was observed, indicating the potential of HCN as a biomass burning (BB) marker. A plume was defined as being 6 standard deviations above background for the flights. This method was compared with a number of alternative plume defining techniques employing CO and CH3CN measurements. The 6 sigma technique produced the highest R2 values for correlations with CO. A Normalised Excess Mixing Ratio (NEMR) of 3.76 ± 0.022 pptv ppbv−1 was calculated which is within the range quoted in previous research (Hornbrook et al., 2011). The global tropospheric model STOCHEM-CRI incorporated both the observed ratio and extreme ratios derived from other studies to generate global emission totals of HCN via biomass burning. Using the ratio derived from this work the emission total for HCN from BB was 0.92 Tg (N) yr−1.

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