ABSTRACT
Although ICP-MS was commercialized in 1983, the first 10 years of its development utilized a traditional quadrupole mass analyzer to separate the ions of interest. These worked exceptionally well for most applications but proved to have limitations when determining difficult elements or dealing with more complex sample matrices. This led to the development of alternative mass separation devices that allowed ICP-MS to be used for applications that were previously beyond the capabilities of quadrupole-based technology. Before we discuss these different mass spectrometers in greater detail, let us take a look at the proximity of the mass analyzer in relation to the ion optics and detector. Figure 7.1 shows this in greater detail.
