ICP-MS / ICP-AES

ICP-MS couples together an ICP as an ion source with a MS as a method of detecting the ions. It is highly sensitive and capable of simultaneous analysis of a range of metals at the ppb level.

1. ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma) - this is a high temperature plasma (ionised argon) sustained with a magnetic field, which acts to produce ions.

2. MS (Mass spectrometry) the ions from the plasma are extracted through a series of cones into a mass spectrometer, usually a quadrupole. The ions are separated on the basis of their mass-to-charge ratio and a detector recieves an ion signal proportional to the concentration.

The concentration of a sample can be determined through calibration with elemental standards.

ICP-AES (Atomic Emission Spectrometer) uses the ICP to produce excited atoms which emit radiation (at a wavelength characteristic of a particular element), which can then be detected (signal is proportional to concentration).