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Project
High Resolution sector field inductively coupled plasma Mass Spectrometer (HR-SF-ICPM) (HERC19)
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometers (ICPMS) represents the golden standard for trace element analyses (µg L-1 or lower) in various media. These instruments reach extremely low sensitivities in terms of detection limit but also allow the simultaneous analyses of several elements, as well as their isotopes. Our BRUEGELS-ICPMS laboratory is shared between the VUB and the Federal Institute KMMA (Koninklijk Museum voor Midden Africa). It carries out multidisciplinary research in various disciplines including analytical chemistry, ecology, geology, oceanography, paleoclimate reconstruction, human biomonitoring, material sciences, etc.
The common ground of all these applications resides in the absolute requirement for the high quality analyses of ultra-low concentrations of elements in a variety of samples ranging from Schelde waters to blood tissues. In many cases, the amount of material available for analyses is extremely small (e.g. precious metal, a drop of blood, microfossils, etc) necessitating a highly sensitive instrument capable of reaching pg/g (or lower) detection limits on minute quantities of material.
The current infrastructure encompasses following instruments: a low resolution ICPMS coupled with a laser-ablation system for micro-sampling at a µm scale and a High Resolution Sector Field ICPMS (HR-SF-ICPMS) for the most demanding analyses in term of precision. For the last years, the now 10 year HR-SF-ICPMS has been prone to failures and suffered from wear out problems severely restricting sample throughput and hampering new analytical development. Moreover it requires expensive and frequent repairs. The ongoing research programs of ANCH and GEOL and increasing external demands justify its replacement by a more modern and more performing instrument.
The common ground of all these applications resides in the absolute requirement for the high quality analyses of ultra-low concentrations of elements in a variety of samples ranging from Schelde waters to blood tissues. In many cases, the amount of material available for analyses is extremely small (e.g. precious metal, a drop of blood, microfossils, etc) necessitating a highly sensitive instrument capable of reaching pg/g (or lower) detection limits on minute quantities of material.
The current infrastructure encompasses following instruments: a low resolution ICPMS coupled with a laser-ablation system for micro-sampling at a µm scale and a High Resolution Sector Field ICPMS (HR-SF-ICPMS) for the most demanding analyses in term of precision. For the last years, the now 10 year HR-SF-ICPMS has been prone to failures and suffered from wear out problems severely restricting sample throughput and hampering new analytical development. Moreover it requires expensive and frequent repairs. The ongoing research programs of ANCH and GEOL and increasing external demands justify its replacement by a more modern and more performing instrument.
Date:26 Apr 2012 → 25 Apr 2017
Keywords:Chemistry
Disciplines:Inorganic chemistry