Isotope ratio measurements with elemental-mode electrospray mass spectrometry

Michael E. Ketterer, John P. Guzowski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

The isotope ratio capabilities of an electrospray ionization source interfaced to a quadrupole mass spectrometer are described. With the instrument operated in the metal ion mode, isotope measurements of Ag, Tl, and Pb are conducted using elemental ions produced from 1 × 10-4 M solutions of metal nitrates or acetates in methanol. For Ag and Tl, spray conditions are identified that produce spectra free of MH+ ions. Unbiased Ag and Tl ratio measurements with precisions of ∼0.2% RSD are readily attained. Further improvement in relative precision appears to be limited by temporal drift in the degree of mass discrimination imparted to the measurements by the mass spectrometer. Isotopic analysis of Pb is greatly complicated by significant yields of PbH+ polyatomic ions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)883-887
Number of pages5
JournalAnalytical Chemistry
Volume68
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Analytical Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Isotope ratio measurements with elemental-mode electrospray mass spectrometry'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this