Centre for Environmental Analysis and Remediation (CEAR) - Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS) is a technique used for measuring multi-element concentrations from trace to major component levels. ICPMS employs plasma as the ionization source and uses a mass spectrometer analyzer to detect ions. CEAR owns a VG PQExcell instrument equipped with the following accessories:

• Laser Ablation Microprobe for element analysis in solid samples
• Gas kit for element analysis in organic matrices
• Collision cell technology (CCT) for attenuation of polyatomic interference ions

Major applications of ICPMS include identification and quantification of elements in geological, environmental and biological samples, speciation of metal oxidation states and ionic forms, and measurements of isotopic ratios.