Open AccessMulti-collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry: New Developments and Basic Concepts for High-precision Measurements of Mass-dependent Isotope Signatures
Author(s) -
Nicolas Greber,
Kirsten van Zuilen
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
chimia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2673-2424
pISSN - 0009-4293
DOI - 10.2533/chimia.2022.18
Subject(s) - isotope , inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry , mass spectrometry , range (aeronautics) , stable isotope ratio , analytical chemistry (journal) , cosmochemistry , chemistry , earth science , physics , nuclear physics , environmental chemistry , astrobiology , geology , engineering , aerospace engineering , chromatography
Due to the development of multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) around 25 years ago, the isotopes of a large range of elements (masses from Li to U) are now analyzed with high enough precision and accuracy to resolve subtle natural variations. These so-called 'non-traditional stable isotope systems' opened many new research avenues and are applied at an increasing rate in research and industry projects and in a broad range of different disciplines, including archeology, biology, physics, cosmochemistry and geology. Here, we briefly summarize the most basic concepts of MC-ICP-MS, introduce new technical developments and address important points on how to acquire accurate high-precision isotope measurements of non-traditional stable isotopes.