Advancing LA-ICP-MS: Breaking Free from Conventional Calibration

Martin Šala

In recent years, significant progress has been made in enhancing the throughput, sensitivity, and image quality of Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Despite these advancements, precise quantification remains a challenge due to the reliance on matrix-matched standards, which are often difficult to obtain. To address this issue, our laboratory has developed two novel approaches aimed at improving quantification in LA-ICP-MS analysis.

The advent of Inductively Coupled Plasma Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (ICP-TOFMS) systems allows for the simultaneous measurement of all nuclides, leading to the creation of a semi-quantitative calibration protocol. This innovative method enables the measurement of nuclides even when suitable standards with certified values are unavailable, thus overcoming the limitations of traditional calibration methods.

Accurate calibration in LA-ICP-MS requires matching the material ablated by the laser during analysis. Our alternative approach involves signal correction based on the volume ablated, determined through a separate experiment. This technique ensures precise quantification even without matrix-matched standards, provided that laser fluences are appropriately adjusted.

Both methodologies will be thoroughly discussed, highlighting their respective advantages and contributions to overcoming the challenges of quantification in LA-ICP-MS analysis. We aim to demonstrate that these innovative approaches represent significant progress in advancing LA-ICP-MS methodologies, bringing us closer to achieving more robust and reliable analytical results.

[1] Analytical Chemistry, 2023, 95, 19, 7804–7812

[2] Talanta, Volume 269, 1 March 2024, 125379

[3] Talanta, Volume 271, 1 May 2024, 125712