The Liquid Sampling-Atmospheric Pressure Glow Discharge Addressing Diverse Challenges in Nuclear Analyses

In fifteen words or less, explain the significance of this contribution (Novel Aspect).: The coupling of the LS-APGD microplasma with diverse mass spectrometers allows 'designed for purpose' capabilities.

Abstract Text:

 The Marcus group focuses on the development of mass spectrometric strategies that provide chemical and isotopic information across a wide diversity of applications.  Specifically, a novel microplasma ionization source, the liquid sampling-atmospheric pressure glow discharge (LS-APGD) has proven valuable in performing elemental, isotopic, and molecular species analysis.  This wealth of chemical information can be obtained from samples covering the gamut of solids, liquids, and gases as multiple sample introduction strategies can be employed.  To match this level of chemical flexibility, the microplasma has been interfaced to a variety of mass analyzer platforms, dictated by the end field of use.  For example, the device has been coupled to an Advion Compact Mass Spectrometer (CMS) for implementation in a field deployable, mobile laboratory for rapid survey analysis, both to identify isotopes of interest as well as the chemical forms of those species.  The most extensive work has involved the coupling of the ion source to Orbitrap-type mass analyzers, where ultra-high mass resolution is showing that isotope ratio (IR) analysis can be performed with little or no need to perform chemical separations.  Impressively, we have demonstrated the complete isotopic separation of the Nd and Sm isotopes.  Data acquisition hardware and strategies have been implemented to provide IR precision on-par with MC-ICP-MS.  Coupling that basic capability to the identification of ligands associated with target metals provides levels of identification certainty that are unmatched.  Our most recent efforts have shown sensitivity for Br and I determinations that are many orders of magnitude below ICP-MS, opening up new applications for plasma source mass spectrometry.  In addition, efforts are now looking to exploit the ultrahigh mass resolution as a means of alleviating chromatrographic processing of complex nuclear burn-up samples prior to analysis.  Finally, we are now moving towards single-particle analyses, again with the added advantage of using high mass resolution to overcome typical isobaric intereferences.  This presentation will provide experimental details of the microplasma/MS instrumentation platforms, which hold the promise of performing challenging analyses of relevance in nuclear analyses.