To enable trace element analysis of ice and frozen tissue samples with high spatial resolution directly from solid state a new sampling chamber was developed at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Bremerhaven in cooperation with ISAS (Institute for Spectrochemistry and Applied Spectroscopy), Berlin and IMPRES inc. (Bremen)

The CryoLAC^TM chamber was originally developed for high precision element analysis of scientific ice and sediment samples in the context of climate and geo scientific research. Beyond this applications, the technology enables trace element analyses of frozen tissue samples such as from the liver or brain at high spatial resolution, e.g. for medical, biological and pharmaceutical investigations. For the first time, soft tissue samples, which often contain more than 30% of water, can be ablated in an ablation chamber.

The CryoLAC^TM ablation chamber allows for an experimental set-up with a spatial sampling resolution of down to 300 µm (after 50 laser shots per spot). The chamber can be tempered between -45°C and +50°C and offers a sample volume of 730 mL ideal for ice core measurements. A focused infra-red laser beam ablates material from the ice surface at a wavelength of 1064 nm. The ablated sample aerosol is introduced into an ICP-MS (adaptable to various systems).

In contrast to conventional analysis of dissolved samples the advantages of the new technology are obvious:

• Time efficient sample preparation by direct analysis of frozen samples
• Wet chemical pulping of samples is not needed any more
• Much higher spatial resolution by laser ablation at the frozen original materials, allowing for measurements along chemical micro gradients
• Minimized danger of sample contamination
• Minimal sample consumption and high sampling rates, respectively

Specifications of the CryoLAC^TM chamber

(Exemplified data - design can be varied according to customer’s requests)

• Chamber height:  11 cm
• Chamber diameter:  20 cm
• Material: Interior: ultra pure copper; Mantle: Teflon
• Connectors:Transport gas in/out; Cooling in/out
• Cooling medium:
• Silicon oil or ethanol
• Cooling temperature max. –45°C
• Optics: according to customer requests, e.g. quartz  for IR laser
• Compatibility: customized  adaptation to most modern ICP MS systems on the market

Realization

After development by the ultra high performance analysis group of the AWI in cooperation with partners, the patented CryoLAC^TM chamber was licensed exclusively to the fine mechanics manufacture W. Ludolph GmbH & Co. KG.