ICP Facility
The abbreviation ICP stands for “Inductively Coupled Plasma.” The ICP facility is equipped with five ICP instruments. We operate a multi-collector ICP-MS (MC-ICP-MS, Nu Plasma II), two high-resolution ICP-MS (HR-ICP-MS, Thermo Element XR, Nu AttoM), an ICP-OES (Thermo iCAP 7000), and a TOF-ICP-MS (Nu Vitesse). In addition, there are numerous peripheral devices in various configurations for a wide range of analytical methods.
The Nu Plasma II is a double focussing magnetic sector instrument, allowing state-of-the-art determination of isotopic ratios across the periodic table. The instrument is equipped with 16 Faraday detectors and 6 ion-counting electron multipliers situated at the low and high mass end of the collector. Our Plasma II is currently equipped with a desolvating nebulizer system (DSN-100 or Cetac Aridus II), which increases sensitivity by about 5-10x and lowers oxide interferences. Alternatively, the MC-ICP-MS can be coupled to a 193 nm femto-second (fs) laser ablation system (Solstice, Spectra Physics).
The Nu AttoM and the Element XR are high resolution double-focussing inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The instruments have been designed to provide rapid and precise isotope ratio and quantitative analysis of trace elements in solid and liquid matrices (at concentrations down to sub-part-per-billion (ppb) levels). The instruments use a unique combination of detector modes to give a wide dynamic range and good linearity across the different modes (direct and attenuated electron multiplier, Faraday cup). Furthermore, the Nu AttoM incorporates a so-called ‘FastScan’ ion optics system that allows alteration of the ion trajectories within the magnet. This deflection of the beam can be used to quickly select masses over 40% of the mass range when the magnet is parked at one mass.
The Nu Attom can be coupled to a 193 nm femto-second (fs) laser ablation system (Solstice, Spectra Physics).
The Thermo iCAP 7000 is an ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry) system designed for fast and precise trace element analysis. It achieves detection limits in the low ppb (parts per billion) range for most elements.