Interference removal/mitigation utilizing ICP-MS/MS and single unit mass resolution technology

Environmental matrices often present challenging interferences that may either be plasma or sample based.

Reduction of these interferences using kinetic energy discrimination and/or collisional dissociation have been proven to be effective using single quad ICP-MS using helium as the cell gas, however, reactive gasses can be very effective in either shifting the interference away from the analyte of interest, or shifting the analyte to a new mass, away from the associated polyatomic interference.

Using a reactive gas on a single quad ICP-MS risks creating undesired polyatomic interferences in the collision/reaction cell on other target analyte masses. By utilizing a quadrupole with single amu resolution before the collision/reaction cell, only the target analyte and associated interferences of the same mass enter the cell, giving the analyst ultimate control of the reaction products for a given analyte and associated interference.
The optimization of reaction cell technology, combined with single unit mass resolution allows for more precise measurement of analytes in complex matrices, while also enjoying lower detection limits with tighter precision and improved accuracy. As regulatory detection limits become increasingly lower for environmental matrices, triple quadrupole ICP-MS/MS systems with single unit mass resolution technology has proven to be a superior approach for complex sample matrices.

Presenter: Craig Jones (CP-MS Application Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)

Craig has been with Agilent for over 15 years as an ICP-MS applications scientist. He has been involved with multiple type of applications for ICP-MS, including environmental, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, semiconductor, geologic, and clinical analyses, to name a few. Previous to Agilent he worked in an environmental lab performing analysis and supervising both the inorganic and organic sections of the laboratory. In his spare time, Craig enjoys volunteering at the local marine science center, mountain biking, hiking and relaxing at the beach. Craig obtained a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO.