Lab Update: Cation ion chromatography capabilities are currently down as of January 1, 2022.

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) is an analytical methodology to determine the elemental composition of liquids and solids.

ICP-MS is also suitable to determine the isotopic composition of many elements in aqueous solutions or solid aerosols produced by laser ablation. In this case, instruments equipped with several detectors (multi-collector) are needed in order to achieve the precision typically desired for isotopic ratios.

ICP-MS is one of the most sensitive analytical techniques for elements, with detection limits typically below 1 ng/kg for elements with lower ionization energies and below 1 mg/kg for elements with higher ionization energies. Because the plasma temperature is high enough to break all chemical bonds and form cations (with the exception of H, He, N, O, F and Ne,) ICP-MS provides total concentration of the elements in the sample but cannot provide information about the different chemical species containing those elements. In addition, any isobaric and polyatomic interferences are handled using collision/reaction cells or high-resolution modes which can eliminate the need for most on-line or off-line chromatographic methods. 

Using state of the art instrumentation, the ICP-MS Metals Lab and Strontium Isotopes Lab at the Dept. of Geology and Geophysics provide analyses of trace and major elements, and heavy isotopes in a wide variety of environmental, geological, biological, engineered and forensic samples.

Agilent 8900 ICP-QQQ: Tandem quadrupole mass-spectrometer (ICP-MS/MS) with an octopole reaction system to effectively remove isobaric and polyatomic interferences. An Elemental Scientific microFAST syringe driven autosampler capable of small (<250μL) sample sizes; quartz Scott type, PFA cyclonic and quartz double-pass spray chambers; HF introduction capable. Ni and Pt cones. Can be interfaced with laser ablation for elemental analysis of solid samples by itself or in combination with Neptune (LASS).

Thermo-Fisher Scientific Neptune Plus MC-ICP-MS: Magnetic sector mass-spectrometer with multiple collector (Faraday cups and six ion counters) for U-Pb and U-Th methods. Autosampler Elemental Scientific SC2-DX; PFA cyclonic and quartz double-pass spray chambers; platinum, nickel, or nickel jet cones; HF introduction capable. Can be interfaced with laser ablation for isotopic analysis of solid samples by itself or in combination with Agilent 8900 or additional Neptune (LASS).

Thermo-Fisher Scientific Neptune MC-ICP-MS: Magnetic sector mass-spectrometer with multiple collector (Faraday cups and one ion counters) for isotopic analysis of Sr, B, Mg, Pb, Hg, Nd, Hf, etc. Autosampler Elemental Scientific SC2-DX; PFA cyclonic and quartz double-pass spray chambers; platinum, nickel, or nickel jet cones; HF introduction capable. Can be interfaced with laser ablation for isotopic analysis of solid samples by itself or in combination with Agilent 8900 or additional Neptune (LASS).

Teledyne-Photon Machines Analyte Excite Excimer Laser Ablation system: 193nm/5ns excimer laser with fixed arm cyclonic cup for 1" mountable plugs and 25mm x 75mm x 1mm slides for analysis of solid samples on ICP-MS. Semi-quantitative spatial elemental analysis down to < 1ppm for most elements available; as well as U/Pb, Sr, and Hf isotopic analyses. Can be interfaced to several instruments for simultaneous analysis of elemental/isotopic or two different isotopic groups (Laser Ablation Split Stream (LASS).

Elemental Scientific PrepFAST MC: Automated column chemistry with specific methods available for separation and elution of pure fractions for isotopic analysis of the following elements: B, Sr

Metrohm Basic IC 883: High pressure liquid ion chromatographs for separation and characterization of both major anions (F^-, Cl^-, NO₂^-, NO₃^-, Br^- SO₄^2-, PO₄^3-) and cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, NH₄⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺). Two instruments are available, each with different capabilities regarding the ion family desired. Anion-specific instrument is equipped with an ion suppressor and both are equipped with a conductivity detector.

Metrohm 905 Titrando: Automatic titrator for alkalinity measurements with pH glass electrode and 16 position autosampler.

Elemental Scientific Lasers MicroMill2: Fixed CNC drill with movable stage and digital microscope for accurately sampling small amounts of material for elemental analysis, radiogenic isotope or stable isotope analyses.

Analytical Services

 

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Sample Handling

¹Natural Water Analyses for Trace Elements, Major Anions and Cations, and Alkalinity

Elemental analyses for both filtered (“soluble”) and raw (“total recoverable”) water and wastewater samples  following U.S. EPA 200.8 (Determination of Trace Elements in Waters and Wastes by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry) are available. Collecting water samples for the determination of the “soluble” fraction of trace elements require strict protocols:

Containers to collect samples: Use low density polyethylene (LDPE) bottles >30 mL, acid leached in 10 % HCl at 65^o C, rinsed with Type I water and dried in a dust-free environment like a laminar flow bench, individually Ziplock bagged. In some cases, it is possible to use acid leached 5-10 mL polypropylene (PP) centrifuge tubes to keep samples. For a detailed acid leaching protocol go here(2).

Filter: acid leached with 10 % HCl and rinsed with Type I water, 0.45 mm cartridge filter with polyethylene with Luerlock connector and 50 mL polypropylene syringe.

Auxiliary bottle to load syringe: 125-500 mL acid leached LDPE wide mouth bottle.

 

Clean Hands – Dirty Hands protocol:

Dirty hands: rinse auxiliary bottle with sample to be collected a few times, fill it and cap it. Let particles to settle for one minute and excess water on the outside of bottle and threads to drain. When clean hands are ready, pour carefully from auxiliary bottle into syringe (filter cartridge on) held by clean hands. Auxiliary bottle can be reused provided the conductivity of different samples is similar or when the samples are taken in order of increasing conductivity.

Clean hands: Prepare a clean surface to work (like a cooler top or small table). Open large Ziplock bag containing individually bagged sampling kits and put it on clean surface.  Put non-powder gloves on (vinyl or nitrile) and take one sampling kit. Remove sample bottle from Ziplock bag, open sample bottle and leave bottle and cap in Ziplock bag. Remove syringe and filter cartridge from Ziplock bag, remove plunger and screw filter in syringe. Hold syringe for dirty hands to fill it carefully to about 75% of syringe volume from auxiliary bottle. Replace syringe plunger and filter into sample bottle. Discard the first 5 mL to remove any liquid left from filter cleaning. Discard syringe with filter cartridge, close sample bottle tightly and place back in Ziploc bag. Put bagged sample in a second large Ziplock bag containing samples. 

Storage and acidification: keep sample in cooler with ice and acidify with > 0.3 mL of concentrated HNO₃ or HCl (trace metal grade) within 24 hrs. 

Sampling kits include acid leached polypropylene 15 mL centrifuge tube, or low-density polyethylene narrow mouth 30-125 mL bottle, syringe and cartridge filter can be provided. Sampling tubes or bottles may have acid in the for sample preservation.

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²Acid leaching of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bottles (30-500 mL) and polypropylene (PP) centrifuge tubes (5-100 mL)

Prepare 10% HCl (v/v, AR grade) in a large plastic capped container (ideally a carboy with spigot) and fill bottles or tubes (not used) leaving ~10% volume headspace. Fill a Ziplock bag with one or two full layers of bottles or tubes, depending on their size. Do no mix different sizes in the same bag. Place bag in oven at 65^o C in a Pyrex tray, stacking bags flat on top of each other. Leave for one day, then turn over the bags and leave them for a second day. Remove from oven and let bottles cool down to room temperature, then pour the acid contained in bottles or tubes back in the 10% HCl container (carboy). Rinse bottles or tubes individually and thoroughly (outside and inside) using Type I water. After rinse, fill the bottle or tubes with Type I water, cap them and put them in a clean plastic box. Take the box with containers into laminar flow and let the outside of containers to dry. Open containers one by one, empty the water gently into waste plastic container placed inside laminar flow bench and let them is dry on racks. Cap containers and Ziplock bag clean dry bottles or tubes. Store in in designated clean drawers. 

 

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Notes

Minimum Charge of $120

Assisted hourly rate: 100% additional

External rates: Academic Institutions and Government Agencies 54% additional; Private companies 100% additional.

1. Extra charges for filtering of liquid samples and grinding, leaching and digestion of solid or organic samples
2. First element charge $22, each extra element $1.5
3. First element charge $36, each extra element $3
4. When major and trace elements are present in the same suite, they are charged as two separate suites
5. Extra charges for mounting solid samples
6. Concentration 100 ng U/g of CaCO₃; ²³⁸U/²³²Th > 10 g/g
7. Volumetric and gravimetric dilution, filtering, grinding, leaching, acid digestion, ashing and alkaline fusion range between $2-$50 per sample.
8. This is in addition to any charges contained with suite A, B, C, D or additional elements
9. Extra charge for dilution of brines
10. Kit contains acid-leached LDPE bottles (30-125 mL), syringe and cartridge filter in individual Ziplock bags.
11. Hourly charge for LA-ICP-MS/MS includes as many elements as needed, though resolution may be affected negatively with more elements measured.

Solid and liquid samples can be shipped to:

Diego P Fernandez

115 So. 1460 E, Rm 383

Dept. Geology and Geophysics

Salt Lake City, UT 84112

 

Please send an email to diego.fernandez@utah.edu and christopher.r.anderson@utah.edu when you've shipped with a tracking number. Also fill out the submission form below with your billing information so that you may get your results in as timely a manner as possible.

SAMPLE SUBMISSION FORM