Iolite Based Bulk Normalization as 100% (m/m) Quantification Strategy for Reduction of Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry Transient Signal

Abstract

Abstract Iolite package draw more attention in laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) community in recent years due to its powerful data-handling capacity, excellent signal visualization and open source of calculation codes. In this study, the application of Iolite package was investigated for LA-ICP-MS elemental quantification, and a calculation code for the bulk normalization as 100% (m/m) strategy was compiled. We found that the spline interpolation approach was better than that of linear one for the correction of time-dependent instrument drift. BCR-2G as the quality material was used to assess the proposed code, and the results revealed that the code was practical and reliable. The analytical accuracy was influenced by the used calibration materials. TiO2, MgO, K2O and rare earth elements in BCR-2G were slightly off (5%–10%) when NIST SRM 610 as the calibrator. Cr and Mo were higher (10%–30%) than the recommended values when StHs6/80-G was used as the calibrator. The phenomena would be attributed to the matrix effect or the inaccurate values of corresponding calibrators. Three main sources for the LA-ICP-MS combined uncertainty were recognized, including the uncertainty of recommended values of analytes in calibration material, the uncertainty of measured intensity ratios in sample and the error in bulk normalization as 100% (m/m) strategy. A total of 50 elements in CGSG glass reference materials were quantified based on the proposed Iolite code. Major elements (except MnO, CaO and P2O5) matched well with the recommended values with a discrepancy of 5%, and the trace elements (except Cr, Ni, Zn, Ga, Mo and Sb) were agreement with the recommended values in 10%. The dataset reported in this study was helpful for the value certification of CGSG reference materials. Overall, the proposed Iolite code broadened the application of Iolite package in the reduction of LA-ICP-MS transient signal for the elemental determination.