Elemental profiling of Biological and Non-biological samples

Abstract

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a powerful analytical tool which is used for analyzing trace elements with excellent sensitivity in biological and non-biological environmental samples. A large range of elements can be detected using an ICP-MS, which are summarized in Figure. The ICP-MS employs argon plasma (ICP) as the ionization source and a mass spectrometer (MS), usually with a quadrupole mass filter, to separate the ions produced. It can simultaneously measure most elements in the periodic table and determine analyte concentrations down to the sub nanogram per litre or parts per trillion (ppt), level. It can perform qualitative, semi quantitative, and quantitative analysis, and compute isotopic ratios on water samples, and in waste extracts and digest in an ICP-MS instrument, liquid samples are introduced by a peristaltic pump to the nebulizer where a sample aerosol is formed.