Instruments and Measurement Capabilities

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Perkin-Elmer Sciex ELAN 6000 Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS)

• Analysis of solutions, dissolved solids, or with laser ablation, solid samples
• Detection limits in the part per trillion range for many elements
• Rapid scanning (quadrupole) mass spectrometry for analysis of up to 72 elements in less than 5 minutes per sample
• Measure minor, trace and ultratrace concentrations without dilution or preconcentration
• Semi-quantitative analysis mode using heuristic rules allows rapid determination of 72 elements based on calibration of five elements
• Capable of measuring different isotopes for isotope ratio determination, stable isotope based experiments

A Perkin-Elmer Sciex ELAN 5000 instrument was purchased in 1994 with support from Perkin Elmer Corporation and The Ohio State University. The ELAN 5000 was replaced by an ELAN 6000 ICP-MS in 1996. The instrument is used for research in the Laboratory for Plasma Spectrochemistry as well as the MARC.

ThermoFinnigan Element 2 Inductively Coupled Plasma Sector Field Mass Spectrometer

• Analysis of solutions, dissolved solids, or with laser ablation, solid samples
• Detection limits in the part per trillion range or below  for many elements, most often limited by cleanliness of sample preparation and blanks
• High sensitivity in low resolution mode or high mass spectral resolution to overcome spectral overlaps that plague quadrupole based MS
• Measure minor, trace and ultratrace concentrations without dilution or preconcentration
• Capable of measuring different isotopes for isotope ratio determination, stable isotope based experiments

The ThermoFinnigan Element 2 Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer was purchased with funds from the Hayes Investment Fund of the Ohio Board of Regents, The Ohio State University, the College of Mathematics and Physical Sciences and the Department of Geological Sciences as part of the Ohio Mass Spectrometry Consortium.

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