Single Particle ICP-TOFMS Measurements of Nanoparticles and Microparticles in Environmental Samples: Capabilities and Essential Considerations

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

2:30 PM - 2:50 PM EDT

Location: Meeting Room #4&5

Presenting Author(s)

JO

John W. Olesik, PhD

Research Scientist/Adjunct Associate Professor
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, United States

Non-Presenting Author(s)

ML

Madeleine Lomax-Vogt, PhD

Postdoc
Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, United States
LC

Lucas Carter

Graduate Student
Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, United States
SK

Stanislav Kutuzov, PhD

Researcher
Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, United States
PG

Paolo Gabrielli, PhD

Researcher
Italian Glaciological Committee c/o University of Turin
Turin, Piemonte, Italy
GL

Greg Lowry, PhD

Professor
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
SR

Sullivan Ryan

Professor
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

In fifteen words or less, explain the significance of this contribution (Novel Aspect).: Measurements of nanoparticles and microparticles entrapped in ice cores used to illustrate capabilities of spICP-TOFMS

Abstract Text:

Single particle ICP-TOFMS may be uniquely capable of measuring the elemental composition (for elements measurable by ICP-MS), number concentration (# particles/mL), and mass equivalent diameter of hundreds of thousands of individual nanoparticles and microparticles in a few milliliters of a sample in minutes. These capabilities may enable new insight into the presence, sources, and fate of natural, incidental, and engineered particles in the environment. For example, measurement of many thousands of particles entrapped in ice cores may allow clearer identification of minor sources of particles than bulk measurements could because associations of particular sets of elements in individual particles can be observed.

However, spICP-TOFMS has potential limitations that must be carefully considered. Not only are the detection limits (in fg) element-dependent but also sample-dependent, due to differences in the quasi-constant signal from a particular element of interest. The mass equivalent diameters of particles that contain significant but undetectable amounts of an element (such as Si) may be underestimated; it may be impossible to distinguish a nanoparticle from a microparticle with most of its mass consisting of one or more elements (such as Si) in amounts below their detection limit. These limitations must be carefully considered to fairly compare the particle number concentrations of specific elemental composition in different samples.

Examples of the capabilities and some of the limitations of spICP-TOFMS will be illustrated and discussed using measurements of nanoparticles and microparticles entrapped in ice cores.