ICP Facility
The clean lab facility is equipped with 5 mass spectrometers, including a multiple collector ICP-MS (MC-ICP-MS, Nu Plasma II), a high resolution ICP-MS (HR-ICP-MS, Nu AttoM), a double focusing sector field ICP-MS based on a Mattauch-Herzog geometry (ICP-MS, Spectro MS), and two isotope ratio mass spectrometers (IRMS, Sercon (ANCA) 20-20).
The Nu Plasma II is a double focussing magnetic sector instrument, allowing state-of-the-art determination of isotopic ratios across the periodic table. The instrument is equipped with 16 Faraday detectors and 6 ion-counting electron multipliers situated at the low and high mass end of the collector. Our Plasma II is currently equipped with a desolvating nebulizer system (DSN-100 or Cetac Aridus II), which increases sensitivity by about 5-10x and lowers oxide interferences. Alternatively, the MC-ICP-MS can be coupled to a 193 nm femto-second (fs) laser ablation system (Solstice, Spectra Physics).
The Nu AttoM is a high resolution double-focussing inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The instrument has been designed to provide rapid and precise isotope ratio and quantitative analysis of trace elements in solid and liquid matrices. The instrument uses a unique combination of detector modes to give a wide dynamic range and good linearity across the different modes (direct and attenuated electron multiplier, Faraday cup). Furthermore, the Nu AttoM incorporates a so-called ‘FastScan’ ion optics system that allows alteration of the ion trajectories within the magnet. This deflection of the beam can be used to quickly select masses over 40% of the mass range when the magnet is parked at one mass.
The HR-ICP-MS can be coupled to a 193 nm femto-second (fs) laser ablation system (Solstice, Spectra Physics).
The Spectro MS is a double-focusing sector field ICP-MS based on a Mattauch-Herzog geometry with a newly developed ion optic and novel detector technology. The so-called Direct Charge Detector (DCD) used in the SPECTRO MS is a completely new semiconductor detector with 4800 channels and a high readout rate. It simultaneously covers the entire mass spectrum from 6Li to 238U with a permanent ion beam going to the detector.
The Spectro MS is currently equipped with a desolvating nebulizer system (Apex Q, ESI), which increases sensitivity by about 8-10x and lowers oxide interferences.