An Effect Mechanism Investigation of the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Mass Discrimination

Mass discrimination mostly is an obstacle to accurate determination of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). It is the prevailing notion that mass bias in ICP-MS results from space-charge effects of high density ions form the behind of skimmer cone to the before of slot where a fraction of lighter isotopes fail to enter the mass analyzer. Neodymium isotopes was analyzed by a Nu Plasma multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) to investigate the mass discrimination, respectively changing two crucial analytical parameters: the nebulizer flow and the x-coordinate of inductively coupled plasma, measuring the variety of the Ar40Ar40 molecular ions intensity and the exponential factor of mass discrimination. The curves indicate the presence of the secondly mechanism that lead to the heavier isotope depletion. It is maybe the plasma centrifuge effects, a concept proposed firstly by Qing-zhu Yin and Cin-Ty Lee. The two contrary mechanisms act on the ions and in theory the points should be exist where the two forces are equilibrium and the measurement results are the expectation values.