Re: ETV-ICP-MS Analysis of Radium

[Bernard Cohen <blc+@PITT.EDU>]

My experience with ICP-MS ended about 12 years ago. At that time, the 

machines were very expensive (about $200,000 if I remember right) and 

required constant attention by very expert handlers. But the sensitivity 

was exceptionally high. We purchased our unit from Perkin-Elmer.



Leo M. Lowe wrote:



> Hello,

>

> Is anyone familiar with the analysis of radium by electrothermal 

> vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ETV-ICP-MS) 

> (phew) ?

>

> According to a paper by McIntyre et al (1997) in the J. Analytical 

> Atomic Spectrometry (Vol.12:547-551) at 

> http://pubs.rsc.org/ej/JA/1997/D9607270.PDF ,

>  it has a detection limit of less than 2 fg (femtograms) or about 7 x 

> !0(-5) Bq, a very low value.  It is apparently also very quick 

> (minutes) compared to analyses based on radioactivity counting 

> techniques.

>

> Is this a practical method for environmental samples? What about the 

> costs?  If preferred, feel free to respond directly to me.

>

>

> Leo M. Lowe, Ph.D., P.Phys.

>

> SENES Consultants Limited

> llowe@senes.ca

> www.senes.ca

> Tel: (905) 764-9380

> Fax:(905) 764-9386

>

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