Abstract
Precise tellurium (Te) isotope ratio measurement using mass spectrometry is a challenging task for many decades. In this paper, Te isotope ratio measurements using multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC–ICP–MS) in terrestrial Te standards have been reported. Newly developed Faraday cup with 1012 Ω resistor is used to measure low abundance 120Te, whereas the 1011 Ω resistor is used to measure other Te isotopes. The relative standard deviation obtained for Te isotope ratio measurement by Faraday cups of 120Te/128Te [0.002907(05)], 122Te/128Te [0.079646(10)], 123Te/128Te [0.027850(07)], 125Te/128Te [0.221988(09)], 126Te/128Te [0.592202(20)], and 130Te/128Te [1.076277(30)] were 0.140%, 0.014%, 0.026%, 0.005%, 0.004%, and 0.004%, respectively. The measured isotope ratio results are compared with previous results obtained by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), negative thermal ionization mass spectrometry (N–TIMS), and MC–ICP–MS, showing an improvement in the precision about one order of magnitude for 120Te/128Te ratio. The present study shows better precision for Te isotope ratios compared to earlier studies.
Highlights
The origin of elements suggests that a number of different nucleosynthesis processes produce the present-day abundances of the elements
The measured isotope ratio results are compared with previous results obtained by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), negative thermal ionization mass spectrometry (N–TIMS), and MC–ICP–MS, showing an improvement in the precision about one order of magnitude for 120 Te/128 Te ratio
Te isotope ratios of Te standard measured on seven different dates from October 2019 to January 2020 are summarized in Table 1 and analytical uncertainties are expressed in two mean standard deviations (2σm )
Summary
The origin of elements suggests that a number of different nucleosynthesis processes produce the present-day abundances of the elements. Multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC–ICP–MS) paired with a desolvating nebulizer is used to achieve high improvement in accuracy and precision for the Te isotope ratio measurement, due to the ionization of a greater portion of Te atoms [11,12,13,14,15,16,17]. Significantly improves ionization efficiency, analytical sensitivity, and limits potential isobaric interferences [23,24] In this contribution, the analytical performance of MC–ICP–MS with a desolvating nebulizer sample introduction system employing the new Faraday cup of 1012 Ω resistors are used for the determination of low abundance 120 Te. To demonstrate the applicability of this method Te isotope ratios were measured on terrestrial Te standards from different parts of the world, to detect any isotope heterogeneity or incomplete mixing present among the terrestrial standards
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