IPERION HSIntegrated Platform for the European Research Infrastructure

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a type of mass spectrometry that uses an Inductively coupled plasma to ionize the sample. It atomizes the sample and creates atomic and small polyatomic ions, which are then detected. It is known and used for its ability to detect metals and several non-metals in liquid samples at very low concentrations. It can detect different isotopes of the same element, which makes it a versatile tool in isotopic labelling. Samples are usually dissolved in a clean lab prior to analysis but liquids can be measured directly.

Fields of application

  • Cultural heritage

    art, painting

  • Natural heritage

    fossil, mineral, shell, skeleton

Materials

  • inorganic

    ceramics, stone, metal and metallurgical By-Products

  • organic

    animal parts, paper

TOOLS

Inductively Coupled Plasma MS system

The system is a combination of a thermo HR-ICP-MS (high resolution mass spectrometer with inductively-coupled plasma ionisation) and a Agilent Q-ICP-MS.