Analytical Chemistry


ICPMS
PQ ExCell

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) is an analytical technique for the analysis of trace and ultratrace elements in aqueous or dissolved solid samples.  The technique is capable of simultaneous analysis of most
elements on the periodic table at concentrations as low as 1 pg/g. ICPMS has applications in many areas of study including environmental chemistry, geochemistry, and cosmochemistry.

We have a Thermal Elemental PQ ExCell ICPMS equipped with an auto sampler. This instrument is installed in a dedicated laboratory complete with all necessary support facilities for trace element analysis of solutions and dissolved solid samples. This instrument is equipped with plasma screen capability and collision cell technology (CCT) for selective attenuation of many problematic polyatomic ions. Our sample preparation is performed in a Class 100 Clean Hood environment to minimize the potential of sample contamination.  This instrument plays an integral role in our projects in the areas of Cosmochemistry and Environmental Chemistry.

We have recently acquired a Spectro iQ energy despersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) through funding from the Dreyfus Foundation.  XRF is an analytical technique for the analysis of major and minor elements in a variety of sample matrices.  While solid samples are typically homogenized and pressed or fused into a pellet for quantitative analyses , rapid non-destructive qualitative analyses can be performed.  Multielement analysis is readily performed.  The XRF method is very rapid and can compete with wet-chemical methods in terms of accuracy, but only for major constituents of the sample.  XRF has applications in many areas of study including environmental chemistry, geochemistry, and cosmochemistry. 
XRF

XRF


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