ABSTRACT
There are a small number of elements, which are recognized as having poor detection limits by ICP-MS. These are predominantly elements that suffer from major spectral interferences generated by ions derived from the plasma gas, matrix components, or the solvent/acid used to get the sample into solution. Examples of these interferences include:
The cold/cool plasma approach, which uses a lower temperature to reduce the formation of the argon-based interferences, has been a very effective way to get around some of these problems (1). However, it can sometimes be difficult to optimize, is only suitable for a few of the inter-ferences, is susceptible to more severe matrix effects, and can be time-consuming changing back and forth between normal and cool plasma conditions. These limitations and the desire to improve performance led to the development of collision/reaction cells in the late 1990s. Designed originally for organic MS to generate
daughter species in order to confirm identification of the structure of the parent molecule (2), they found a use in ICP-MS to stop the formation of many argon-based spectral interferences.
