Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a very sensitive, element selective detection system, which hyphenated with a separation module such as HPLC, GC or CE becomes a very versatile tool for speciation analysis.
Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry (MS) is routinely used in many diverse research fields such as earth, environmental, life and forensic sciences and in food, material, chemical, semiconductor and nuclear industries. The high ion density and the high temperatures in the plasma makes it an ideal atomizer and element ionizer for all types of samples and matrices introduced by a variety of specialized devices. Outstanding properties such as high sensitivity (ppt-ppq), relative salt tolerance, compound-independent element response and highest quantitation accuracy lead to the unchallenged performance of ICP-MS in efficiently detecting, identifying and reliably quantifying trace elements.
The versatility of ICP-MS is reflected in the increasing use of the technique and the publication activity of the research community. While the growth rate of the publication activity is decreasing since approximately 1997, the publication rate is still growing and has surpassed about 1000 papers in 2005 (see graph below).
Fig. 1: Development of publications related to ICP-MS
Speciation analysis requires not only element selectivity but differentiation of element species, which (with the exception of isotopic species) calls for separation prior to ICP-MS detection. Separation can be done both off- and on-line, whereby on-line separation has the advantage of an integrated closed system giving reduced contamination, improved reproducibility and sample throughput. Coupling of separation modules with the ICP-MS giving a hyphenated system is straightforward for flow injection, liquid chromatography and gas chromatography but also can be realized for super critical fluid extraction and chromatography (SFE/SFC), capillary electrophoresis (CE) and field flow fractionation (FFF).
It is therefore not surprising that a high number of ICP-MS papers deal with speciation analysis (about 1/3 of all ICP-MS papers!).
Recent reviews on ICP-MS for speciation analysis (newest first)
Adrian A. Ammann,
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS): a versatile tool, J. Mass Spectrom., 42/4 (2007) 419-427.
doi: 10.1002/jms.1206 Rodolfo G. Wuilloud,
Jorgelina C. Altamirano,
Speciation Analysis of Non-Metallic Elements Using Plasma-Based Atomic Spectrometry for Detection, Curr. Anal. Chem., 2/4 (2006) 353-377.
doi: 10.2174/157341106778520544 Clayton B'Hymer,
Joseph A. Caruso,
Selenium speciation analysis using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, J. Chromatogr. A, 1114 (2006) 1-20.
doi:10.1016/j.chroma.2006.02.063 Monika Shah,
Joseph A. Caruso,
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in separation techniques: Recent trends in phosphorus speciation, J. Sep. Sci., 28/15 (2005) 1969.
DOI: 10.1002/jssc.200500234 R. Waddell, C. Lewis, W. Hang, C. Hassell,
Vahid Majidi,
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for elemental speciation: Applications in the new millennium, Appl. Spectrosc. Rev., 40/1 (2005) 33-69.
DOI:10.1081/ASR-200038310 Dirk Schaumlöffel,
Ryszard Lobinski,
Isotope dilution technique for quantitative analysis of endogeneous trace element species in biological systems, Int. J. Mass Spectrom., 242/2-3 (2005) 217-223.
doi:10.1016/j.ijms.2004.11.020 Pablo Rodríguez-González,
Juan Manuel Marchante-Gayón, J. Ignacio García Alonso,
Alfredo Sanz-Medel,
Isotope dilution analysis for elemental speciation: a tutorial review, Spectrochim. Acta, Part B, 60/2 (2005) 151-207.
doi:10.1016/j.sab.2005.01.005 A. Hagege, T. Baldinger, M. Martin-Jouet, F. Zal, M. Leroy, E. Leize, A.V. Dorsselaer,
Assessmenmt of the contribution of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to metalloprotein analysis: A novel approach for studies of multiproteic complexes, Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom., 18/6 (2004) 735-738.
DOI: 10.1002/rcm.1395 Francesco Cubadda,
Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry for the determination of elements and elemental species in food: a review, J. AOAC International, 87/1 (2004) 173-204.
doi: 10.5555/jaoi.2004.87.1.173 Juris Meija, Sandra Mounicou,
J0seph A. Caruso,
Plasma spectrometry for elemental speciation and characterization in beverages, J. AOAC International, 87/1 (2004) 205-224.
doi: 10.5555/jaoi.2004.87.1.205 S.J. Ray, F. Andrade, G. Gamez, D. McClenathan, D. Rogers, G. Schilling, W. Wetzel,
G.M. Hieftje,
Plasma-source mass spectrometry for speciation analysis: state-of-the-art, J. Chromatogr. A, 1050/1 (2004) 3-34.
doi:10.1016/j.chroma.2004.07.107 Mariella Moldovan,
Eva M. Krupp, Alison E. Holliday,
Olivier F. X. Donard,
High resolution sector field ICP-MS and multicollector ICP-MS as tools for trace metal speciation in environmental studies: a review, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 19/7 (2004) 815.
DOI: 10.1039/b403128h Amy L. Rosen,
Gary M. Hieftje,
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and electrospray mass spectrometry for speciation analysis: applications and instrumentation, Spectrochim. Acta, Part B, 59/2 (2004) 135-146.
doi:10.1016/j.sab.2003.09.004 Alfredo Sanz-Medel,
María Montes-Bayón,
María Luisa Fernández Sánchez,
Trace element speciation by ICP-MS in large biomolecules and its potential in proteomics, Anal. Bioanal. Chem., 377/2 (2003) 236-247.
doi: 10.1007/s00216-003-2082-z
Books on ICP-MS (newest first)
Johanna Sabine Becker, Inorganic Mass Spectrometry: Principles and Applications, Wiley, 2007, pp. 504 Steve Hill, Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry and its Applications, 2nd ed., Blackwell, 2006, pp. 448 Simon Nelms, ICP Mass Spectrometry Handbook, Blackwell, 2005, pp. 504 Howard E. Taylor, Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry : practices and techniques, Acaddemic Press, 2002, pp. x+294 Diane Beauchemin, D.C. Grégoire, V. Karanassios, T.J. Wood, D. Günther, J.-M. Mermet, Discrete Sample Introduction Techniques for Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, Elsevier, 2000, pp. 650 Akbar Montaser (Editor), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, John Wiley & Sons, 1998, pp. 1000 EVISA Literature Database: Complete list of books related to ICP-MS (coming soon)
Introductory materials
Agilent Technologies: Handbook of Hyphenated ICP-MS Applications Agilent Technologies: ICP-MS Primer Agilent Technologies: Animated Video: The Principles of ICP-MS Agilent Technologies: Poster: Fundamental Principles of the Agilent 7500 Series ICP-MS with Octopole Reaction System Glass Expansion: Selecting the right ICP spray chamber Inorganic Ventures: ICP Operations - A Guide for New ICP Users Inorganic Ventures: ICP-MS Sensitivity Optimization Jenna Worley and Steve Kvech, Principles of ICP-MS Kenneth L. Busch, A Glossary for Mass Spectrometry, Spectroscopy, 17 (2002) 526 NKS-NORCMASS guide to beginners in ICP-MS PerkinElmer: The 30-min Guide to ICP-MS PerkinElmer: Case Study: Service and Training Support Helps Environmental LabConvert to ICP-MS PerkinElmer: Guide to Techniques and Applications of Atomic Spectroscopy PerkinElmer: Inorganic Speciation Solutions Spectron: Should You (Heat) or Cool Your Spray Chamber? Spectroscopy: Podcasts: ICP-MS for Speciation Analysis Thermo Fisher Scientific: Animated Video: Theory and Application of Collision Reaction Cells Thermo Fisher Scientific: Webinar: Overcoming fundamental limitations of ICP-MS Spectroscopy Tutorials: Robert Thomas, A Beginner's Guide to ICP-MS Part 1: Introduction Part 2: The sample Introduction System Part 3: The Plasma Source Part 4: The Interface Region Part 5: The Ion Focusing System Part 6: The Mass Analyzer Part 7: Mass Separation Devices, Double-Focusing Magnetic-Sector Technology Part 8: Mass Analyzers: Time-of-Flight Technology Part 9: Mass Analyzers: Collision/Reaction Cell Technology Part 10: Detectors Part 11: Peak Measurement Protocol Part 12: A review of interferences Part 13: Sampling Accessories Part 14: Sampling Accessories II
EVISA Database System Company database: Manufacturers of ICP-MS instruments Company database: Mass spectrometry societies Journal Database: Mass spectrometry journals Instrument database: Commercially available ICP-MS instruments Components database: ICP-torches Components database: ICP-cones Components database: ICP nebulizers Components database: ICP spray chambers Agenda of Events: Events related to ICP-MS
Web resources
Elemental composition and isotopic abundances, as published by IUPAC 2002-10-02
Inorganic Ventures: Analytical Periodic System
IUPAC: Compendium of Analytical Nomenclature: Mass Spectrometry
NIST: Atomic Weights and Isotope Composition with Relative Atomic Masses
PlasmaChem Discussion Forum: Search the Archive
Spectron: Cone Cleaning Guide
Further chapters:
Chapter 1:
Tools for elemental speciation
Chapter 2: ICP-MS - A versatile detection system for speciation analysis (this chapter)
Chapter 3: LC-ICP-MS - The most often used hyphenated system for speciation analysis
Chapter 4: GC-ICP-MS
Chapter 5: CE-ICP-MS for speciation analysis
Chapter 6: ESI-MS: The tool for the identification of species
Chapter 7: Speciation Analysis - Striving for Quality
last time modified: February 5, 2010
