Laser Ablation- Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Laser Ablation – Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is an equipment for elemental analysis of materials. The laser ablates and removes material from a solid surface by irradiating it with a pulsed laser beam, the ablated particles are transported to an ICPMS in which the elemental composition is measured, thereby detecting different chemical elements and different isotopes at the same time. By moving the laser over the surface, a 2D image of elemental composition can be obtained with a spatial resolution down to 5 µm. Depth profiles can also be monitored. The LA-ICP-MS can be used for bio-imaging, for geological and archeological applications, in material science and in chemistry. This equipment consists of two different parts (LA and ICP-MS); there is no LA at KU Leuven and some of the applicants use it in France or Austria. The triple quadrupole ICP-MS can work stand-alone and this novel type allows to expand the ICP capacities and possibilities at KU Leuven. The new equipment is requested by ten scientists from environmental chemistry, food chemistry, geology, archaeometry, chemistry and biomedical research. This investment will capitalize the currently low analytical capacities for trace and ultra-trace elements at the KU Leuven.