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Microalgae can be used in different branches of industry, including cosmetology, pharmaceutics and the food industry, information on their ability to accumulate different elements becomes more important. The microalgae biomass grown in the media enriched in elements can increase the accumulation of different ions and give a possibility to control the contents of the various elements. The aim of the study was to determine the total content of metals in microalgae by tandem mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS/MS) and analysis of the contents of particular metals as a function of the type of microalgae and conditions of cultivation. As the adverse effects of metals on the health of humans and animals have been well-documented and the use of microalgae has increased, the knowledge of metal contents in them is of particular importance in control of their quality. Analysis of results permitted distinction of three main groups of microalgae with similar total metal content levels. Moreover, the results revealed the ways of stimulating more significant accumulation of selected elements (for example, Se concentration in control algae 0.279 µg g−1, in the algae cultivated in enriched medium – 219.7 µg g−1). They indicated the possible correlations between the accumulation of different ions. The result obtained shows a significant effect of metal accumulation and has a considerable impact on the differentiation of Arthrospira platensis grown in the medium enriched in different elements (selenium, zinc, chromium) (p ≤ 0.05). Particular impact on the content of selected elements had the conditions of cultivation (type of support) and the microalgae species. Although the one species as the most significant source of selected elements cannot be indicated, it is possible to control the accumulation by the composition of the medium. • The microalgae's ability to accumulate essential elements has become a trendy environmental and food tool. • Rich in selected elements, microalgae have been presented as a novel food. • Analytical techniques for the determination of elements and conditions of cultivation are presented. • Controlling the accumulation of elements by microalgae helps cultivate a species as a great source of essential elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compares different approaches for the quantification of the massic activity of 36Cl in graphite samples. All approaches consisted of a combustion step in combination with a trapping solution to collect the volatile elements. Two different resins were used to separate 36Cl from the matrix (CL resin and PS resin). Liquid scintillation counting (LSC), scintillation counting (SC) and tandem inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) were used to quantify 36Cl activity. The chemical yield in all approaches was determined by means of ion chromatography (IC). In addition, the methods were applied to a real activated graphite sample. • Determination of 36Cl in graphite samples from decommissioning scenarios. • Pyrolysis used for graphite sample combustion. • Two different resins used to separate chlorine from the sample matrix: CL resin and TK-TcScint resin. • Two different techniques used to measure 36Cl activity: scintillation counting and ICP-MS/MS. • 36Cl determined in real activated graphite samples by using different approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical dosage of toxic and essential elements in blood is well established and the collection method is still by venipuncture. This method has drawbacks and is not suited for everyone. Volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) has been shown to have advantages over venipuncture. Materials & methods: Using inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry, a method for quantifying elements in whole blood sampled on VAMS was developed/validated. Method's performance was assessed by comparison with whole blood results. Results: Validation and performance assessment tests tend to show that most of the targeted elements provides accurate and reproducible results comparing to a method of reference. Conclusion: Overall, VAMS presents good preliminary results to eventually become an alternative to venipuncture for blood sampling for some trace elements analysis purposes.

An analytical method based on triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) was developed for simultaneous determination of femtogram levels of 237 Np, 239 Pu, and 240 Pu in environmental samples. By carefully controlling the valence states of Np and Pu in the entire separation procedure using a simple single extraction chromatographic column (TK200), the consistent behavior of Np and Pu was achieved, allowing for the reliable application of 242 Pu as the chemical yield tracer for 237 Np, 239 Pu, and 240 Pu. A high decontamination factor of 3.2 × 10 7 for the most critical interfering element, uranium, was achieved in the chemical separation step. The interferences of 238 U 1 H + and peak tailing of 238 U + during the measurement of plutonium isotopes were effectively eliminated by utilizing 7.5 mL/min He-1.1 mL/min CO 2 as reaction gases in the octupole collision/reaction cell and employing sequential quadrupole mode for mass separation in ICP-MS/MS. Specifically, the interference of 238 U 1 H + was reduced to 10 -6 and the peak tailing of 238 U + to 10 -10 , surpassing the performance of measurement method without reaction gases by 3 orders of magnitude. The developed method enables the accurate determination of femtogram levels of 237 Np, 239 Pu, and 240 Pu in the samples with U/Np and U/Pu atom ratios of up to 10 17 and 10 12 , respectively. The developed method was validated by analyzing standard reference materials and spiked soil samples., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

• Pu tracer is successfully applied to evaluate soil erosion in the Loess Plateau. • Both of natural grassland and artificial forest rehabilitation were effective. • Artificial forest is superior for reducing soil erosion in the short-term. • Natural grass rehabilitation is better for inhibiting soil erosion in the long-term. Soil erosion is a critical threat to the agriculture and ecosystem in the Chinese Loess Plateau area. Ecological rehabilitation has been applied in large area for reduction of the soil erosion. Six soil depth profiles were collected from Nanxiaohegou watershed in the Loess Plateau in northwest China and analyzed for the activity concentrations of plutonium isotopes. The measured 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios in all these samples (0.186±0.017) showed that the global fallout was the dominant source of plutonium in this region. An exponential decline of 239,240Pu activity concentrations with depth was observed in most of soil profiles. The total inventory of 239,240Pu in the reference site was calculated to be 110 Bq/m2, agreeing well with the reported total fallout value in this latitude. The soil erosion rates were estimated by comparison with the reference site to be 538–941 t/km2/yr in the most of sites. While an excessive inventory of 239,240Pu (186 Bq/m2) compared to the reference site was observed in one site in the base area, indicating a significant accumulation of soil occurred in this area. The soil erosion depths were estimated to be 2.4–4.6 cm in most of sites during 1963–2016, which can be classified as minor erosion. Compared with the erosion rates in the Nanxiaohegou watershed in 1963–2012 which was estimated by other methods, it is suggested that the natural grass is better for long-term ecological restoration, especially in slope area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional dating of molybdenite (187Re-187Os) provides one of few options for direct dating of sulfide mineralization. Unfortunately, in situ dating of molybdenite is considered unreliable due to intra-granular decoupling of 187Re-187Os. In this study, we developed a new analytical protocol for studies of micron- to grain scale 187Re-187Os systematics in molybdenite. Online chemical separation using ICP-MS/MS technology enables in situ dating by β-decay systems (e.g., Rb-Sr and K-Ca in micas) using laser ablation. Here, the methodology is extended to the 187Re-187Os system, another β-decay system that cannot be resolved by mass spectrometry. Several reaction gases were evaluated, and production of OsCH2 by reaction with CH4 was found to produce strong separation of Os from Re. However, in contrast to the e.g., 87Rb-87Sr system, 1–2% of the parent isotope Re also reacted to ReCH2, leaving a significant interference. A mathematical correction of this remaining interference is possible, and 187Re-187Os (mass-shifted) can be measured accurately even for fairly extreme ratios. For laser ablation, standards were developed by pressing particulate pellets of conventionally dated molybdenite (Moly Hill and Merlin), because there are no appropriate reference materials available. Six natural molybdenite samples from a range of geological settings, containing > 10 ppm Re, were analyzed by 70 μm laser ablation spots, and ages were calibrated by analysis of molybdenite pellets. Contrary to our expectation, weighted average ages obtained were in agreement (within 1%) with conventional age determinations, with fairly good precision (from ~ 1 to 5% 2σ depending on Re concentration), suggesting limited or essentially nonexistent decoupling within crystals. Two important implications of this result are that decoupling Re-Os is not universal, and that our new analytical protocol is useful both for dating and for studies of decoupling. The benefit of in situ dating compared to conventional dating is, apart from lower cost and time consumption, the possibility of targeting smaller molybdenite crystals (≥ 100 μm) in thin sections and epoxy mounts. The youngest sample in the study is 920 Ma, but we see potential of dating significantly younger Re-rich molybdenite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Almost 8 years after the Japanese Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, data for 236U and 236U/238U have mainly remained limited to only a few heavily contaminated samples. In the present study, activities of 236U, 134Cs, and 137Cs, along with 234U, 235U, 238U, in 15 river bank soil and 10 river sediment samples, were measured by ICP-MS/MS and γ spectrometry. The 134Cs activities and 134Cs/137Cs activity ratios (decay-corrected to March 11, 2011) in these 15 river bank soil samples were from 74.8 to 3.88 × 105 Bq kg−1 and from 0.944 to 1.02, respectively; and in these 10 river sediment samples were from 87.1 to 1.86 × 105 Bq kg−1 and from 0.904 to 0.990, respectively. The 236U activities and 236U/238U atom ratios in these soil samples were in the respective ranges of (0.139–17.6) × 10−5 Bq kg−1 and (0.259–3.83) × 10−8; and in these sediment samples were in the respective ranges of (0.884–27.0) × 10−5 Bq kg−1 and (1.12–5.04) × 10−8. For one river sediment core sample, 134Cs and 236U activities decreased with the depth indicating 134Cs and 236U accumulated in the river sediment with time. Unlike 134Cs, no clear evidence of FDNPP accident-derived 236U has been found in this study, although further monitoring is encouraged to establish the background database on 236U/238U for its potential application as a tracer in environmental studies. Highlights • River bank soil and river sediment samples from Fukushima were collected. • The 134Cs activities were from 74.8 to 3.88 × 105 Bq kg−1. • The 134Cs/137Cs activity ratios were from 0.904 to 1.02. • The 236U activities were in the range of (0.139–27.0) × 10−5 Bq kg−1. • The 236U/238U atom ratios were in the range of (0.259–5.04) × 10−8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Elbe River has been long considered as one of the most anthropogenically impacted rivers in Europe. Its estuary is characterized by strong tidal effects, continuous dredging and dumping of sediment, and intense ship traffic between the North Sea and the Port of Hamburg. The aim of this study was to elucidate if a combined multi-element fingerprinting and isotopic tracer approach represented a suitable tool to investigate transport and mixing processes of inorganic contaminants within a complex and highly dynamic estuarine environment. A total of 37 surface sediment samples from the tidal Elbe were characterized in a comprehensive survey by determining the mass fractions of 48 elements and the isotopic signatures of stable Sr, Nd and Pb. Statistical data analysis resolved four discrete clusters of sampling locations in the estuary: One cluster upstream of the city of Hamburg, two clusters within the mixing zone between Hamburg and the mouth of the Elbe Estuary and one cluster in the mouth of the Estuary. River sediment entering the estuary carry significantly higher loads of metals (e.g. Cu, Zn, Sb, Cd and Pb), which are rapidly "diluted" by lower elemental mass fractions in marine sediment on a remarkably small regional scale. The cluster within the mouth of the estuary is mainly characterized by extreme isotopic variations of n (208Pb)/ n (204Pb) ranging from 38.67 ± 0.15 to 73.86 ± 0.29, beside high mass fractions of U, Th, and some rare-earth elements. Determined Pb isotope ratios are among the highest reported values for terrestrial materials. This study indicates the general potential of combined element fingerprinting and isotope tracer approaches to elucidate processes in complex river systems. Furthermore, it represents an initial characterization of the catchment area of the Elbe River as basis for future studies on river and harbor management. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Environmental research related to a complex land-river-sea system • Combination of multi-element (48 elements) and isotope ratio analysis of Sr, Nd, Pb • Extreme variation of Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic signatures in Elbe surface sediment • Observation of four discrete statistical clusters within the river estuary • Confirmation of mixing processes between marine and riverine sediments [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The capability of inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) to achieve total concentration and speciation using direct injection of petroleum products after solvent dilution for severely interfered isotopes was demonstrated here with different applications cases. For the direct determination of heavy elements (Z > 70) in organic matrices, the ICP-MS/MS was less sensitive than the ICP-HRMS. For light elements (Z < 40), the sensitivity was similar or better using ICP-MS/MS and for interfered elements (Si, S, Ca, Fe), the use of the two quadrupoles combined to the octopole reaction/collision cell (ORC) with He, O 2 or H 2 gave similar or better detection limits (LOD) than the ICP-HRMS in medium resolution. Comparable or better sensitivity were obtained replacing the 1.5 mm by the 1 mm injector diameter and especially for lighter elements (Z < 30) using the ICP-MS/MS. LOD in xylene were ranging from 0.004 μg/kg (V) to 0.9 μg/kg (Al) and appeared in the lowest values published in the literature using ICP-MS/MS in hydrocarbons. To demonstrate the performance of the ICP-MS/MS using direct injection of petroleum products after dilution in hydrocarbon solvent, three application cases were presented. Sulfur at very low levels in reformates was successfully monitored in oxygen mode using the oxide ion (32S → 48SO). The background equivalent concentration (BEC) origin was attributed to solvent contamination by sulfur and was confirmed by ultra-violet fluorescence (UVF) method. Using H 2 for Ni (58Ni → 58Ni) and O 2 for V (51V → 67VO) as reactant gas, the direct injection ICP-MS/MS method easily confirmed Ni and V concentrations measured using wavelength dispersive X-rays fluorescence (WDXRF) and allowed the determination of 14 elements in the asphaltene fraction, with concentrations ranging from 0.3 mg/kg (Al and Pb) to 37.4 mg/kg for Fe. For speciation of Ni, V and S, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) hyphenated to ICP-MS/MS is particularly powerful using O 2 (2.5 mL/min) both for vacuum residue and hydrotreated (HDT) vacuum residue. Contrary to GPC-ICP-HRMS where two injections of sample were required (medium resolution for S and V and low resolution for Ni), GPC-ICP-MS/MS easily allowed the acquisition of the 3 elements in one mode during the same run and considerably reduce the analysis cost and time. Both for total and speciation analysis, the direct injection of petroleum products after solvent dilution ICP-MS/MS method is a significant advantage and appealing in high-volume petroleum laboratories. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • The application of direct dilution injection of petroleum products using ICP-MS/MS • Sensitivity for interfered elements is similar or better by ICP-MS/MS than ICP/HRMS • LOD in xylene are ranging from 0.004 µg/kg (V) to 0.9 µg/kg (Al) • Total concentrations by ICP-MS/MS are in agreement with normalized methods • One GPC-ICP-MS/MS analysis is adequate for S, Ni and V speciation in complex matrices [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A new rapid protocol for 226Ra separation and preconcentration in natural water samples was developed before its determination by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). For this purpose, the commercially available Ra specific resin AnaLig® Ra-01 was used. This resin shows a high selectivity for radium in a large range of acid concentrations and no affinity or possible elution of 226Ra interfering elements. The distribution coefficients of Ra and other elements over a wide range of acid (HCl and HNO 3) concentrations were obtained. Due to the high radium selectivity, the new developed protocol uses only 50 mg of dry resin and its performance was evaluated using 100 mL of three natural waters with different ionic strengths, spiked with a known quantity of 226Ra. Radium was successfully separated and preconcentrated yielding recoveries ranging between 72% and 86%. In parallel with the characterisation of the resin sorption properties, a detailed study of polyatomic interferences was performed on our ICP-MS allowing to identify the prominent elements favouring interferences at m/z = 226. Furthermore, a 226Ra sensitivity comparison between different ICP-MS instruments and configurations was done in order to determine high sensitivity conditions for radium analysis. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • The AnaLig® Ra-01 is a new high selective resin for Ra. • This resin allows a rapid separation and preconcentration of Ra. • 226Ra signal improvement using APEX-HF connected to ICP-MS/MS. • This resin opens up possibilities for the miniaturization of Ra chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract More nuclear power plants continue to be built in China. Due to its long half-life, radiotoxicity and potential application as an environmental tracer, 236U is one of the most important artificial radionuclides deserving more study since activity data are important for risk assessment. However, the ultra-trace activity of 236U and its dilution by natural uranium isotopes make it difficult to distinguish its sources and there are only limited global fallout 236U data for present in Chinese environmental samples. In order to understand the background levels for uranium isotopes, especially 236U, and clarify their sources, inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) was applied to analyze uranium isotopes in 48 soil samples from Hunan Province, China. The 234U, 235U, 238U and 236U concentrations were measured as 9.91–33.7, 0.312–1.43, 6.63–28.7 Bq kg−1 and (1.61–21.3) × 107 atoms g−1, while, the 236U/238U, 234U/238U and 235U/238U atom ratios were (0.470–4.91) × 10−8, (5.10–9.31) × 10−5, and (7.11–7.82) × 10−3, respectively. The uranium isotopic fractionation may be due to irrigation of the agricultural lands where the samples were collected. Considering the facts that neither previous nuclear tests nor nuclear accidents had occurred in Hunan Province and the present 236U/238U atom ratios were included in the range of global fallout values in other areas, it may be concluded that 236U in soils from Hunan Province is mainly from global fallout. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the presence of global fallout 236U in soil samples from China has been confirmed for the first time, and these values may be useful as background data for risk assessment in the future. Highlights • First 236U data in soil samples from Hunan, China are presented. • Fingerprint and database of uranium atom ratios were established. • The 236U present was mainly from global fallout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A novel analytical method to detect the retention of gadolinium from contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in tissue samples of patients is presented. It is based on laser ablation - inductively coupled plasma - triple quadrupole - mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS/MS). Both Gd and P were monitored with a mass shift of +16, corresponding to mono-oxygenated species, as well as Zn, Ca, and Fe on-mass. This method resulted in a significantly reduced background and improved limits of detection not only for phosphorus, but also for gadolinium. These improvements were essential to perform elemental bioimaging with improved resolution of 5 μm x 5 μm, allowing the detection of small Gd deposits in fibrotic skin and brain tumour tissue with diameters of approximately 50 μm. Detailed analyses of these regions revealed that most Gd was accompanied with P and Ca, indicating co-precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total sample consumption infrared-heated system (IR-TSC) has been coupled to ICP-tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) for the first time. The objective of this study was to assess the analytical performance of the IR-TSC system, in terms of analytical figures of merit and mitigation of matrix effects. Twenty-seven elements have been determined: Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, Tl, V and Zn. Different operating conditions, including nebulization flow rate and spray chamber temperature, were optimized to improve sensitivity, signal stability, and plasma thermal conditions. The results showed that the infrared-heated sample introduction system improved the signal intensity by a factor of 2 to 4 compared to a conventional sample introduction system, whereas the limits of detection (LODs) improved by a factor going from 1.2 (Ba) to 3.3 (Cr) for a sample containing 2% HNO 3. Meanwhile, for a 10% ethanol sample the improvement factor ranged from 1.4 (Ti) to 3.8 (Cr). Matrix effects for solutions containing inorganic acids or high content of sodium (2% HNO 3 , 10% HNO 3 , 20% HNO 3 , 10% HCl; 500 mg kg−1 Na, 500 mg kg−1 Na + 10% HNO 3) were mitigated under optimum conditions (IR-TSC at 125 °C). Meanwhile, for solutions containing organic solvents (10% ethanol, 10% acetic acid, and 10% formic acid) it was not possible to eliminate matrix effects, even when applying an internal standard. For Se and As, elements spectrally interfered, the combination of IR-TSC sample introduction system with oxygen as reaction/collision gas mode in ICP-MS/MS provided accurate results. For 10% HNO 3 and 10% HCl relative intensities values, calculated taking the signal intensity obtained for 2% HNO 3 as reference, were close to the unity. Environmental and clinical control and certified reference materials were analyzed by means of an external calibration approach, with most of the elements showing concentrations not significantly different from the certified values. Finally, the IR-TSC was tested on twelve real samples, including seawater, surface water, peritoneal fluid, seminal plasma, wine, and bioethanol samples, demonstrating the system potential in different application fields. [Display omitted] • Adaptation of a total sample consumption infrared-heated system to ICP-MS/MS. • Matrix effects mitigation for inorganic acids and easily ionizable elements. • A simple and accurate method for trace elements determination in aqueous samples. • Systematic evaluation of matrix effects for organic samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonyl sulfide (OCS) was used as a reaction gas to investigate gas phase metal (M+) ion-molecule reactions using the Agilent 8900 inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometer (ICP-MS/MS) to yield insight on how this gas may be used to remove isobaric interferences in analytical measurements. The experimental work was paired with density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the reaction enthalpy to predict whether M+ will react with OCS. A multi-element standard containing 46 elements ranging from 9 to 208 u was analyzed in the presence and absence of OCS. When a reaction was observed, the dominant product was the sulfide (MS+). Oxide products were also observed for many M+ but formation was less efficient with OCS than previously observed with other reaction gases. This is likely due to the weaker OC-S bond that makes MS+ formation more favorable. Increasing the flow rate from 0.1 to 0.2 mL/min (corresponding to a change in reaction gas pressure from 0.35 to 0.53 Pa (2.6 to 4.0 mTorr)) generally resulted in greater MS+ production, including the secondary product MS 2 + for a few cations. The early lanthanide series ions (La+, Ce+, Pr+ and Nd+) produced greater quantities of MO+ at the higher pressure, although MS+ products were still the dominant product. The DFT-predicted reaction enthalpies were consistent with the observed sulfide formation, with an accuracy >90%; however, model predictions were less accurate for the minor and higher order products (< 77% for MO+). The work presented here continues a systematic study of ion-molecule reactions in ICP-MS/MS to understand and develop new and novel ways to analyze complex mixtures with minimal pre-analysis treatment. [Display omitted] • Gas phase metal ion-molecule reactions were tested using OCS in ICP-MS/MS. • General reactivity and analytical applications for the use of OCS are discussed. • Primary products were sulfides with minor products of oxides and disulfides. • Density functional theory modelled OCS reactions and compared to experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to measure trace plutonium and its isotopes ratio ( 240 Pu/ 239 Pu) in environmental samples with a high uranium, an analytical method was developed using radiochemical separation for separation of plutonium from matrix and interfering elements including most of uranium and ICP-MS for measurement of plutonium isotopes. A novel measurement method was established for extensively removing the isobaric interference from uranium ( 238 U 1 H and 238 UH 2 + ) and tailing of 238 U, but significantly improving the measurement sensitivity of plutonium isotopes by employing NH 3 /He as collision/reaction cell gases and MS/MS system in the triple quadrupole ICP-MS instrument. The results show that removal efficiency of uranium interference was improved by more than 15 times, and the sensitivity of plutonium isotopes was increased by a factor of more than 3 compared to the conventional ICP-MS. The mechanism on the effective suppress of 238 U interference for 239 Pu measurement using NH 3 -He reaction gases was explored to be the formation of UNH + and UNH 2 + in the reactions of UH + and U + with NH 3 , while no reaction between NH 3 and Pu + . The detection limits of this method were estimated to be 0.55 fg mL -1 for 239 Pu, 0.09 fg mL −1 for 240 Pu. The analytical precision and accuracy of the method for Pu isotopes concentration and 240 Pu/ 239 Pu atomic ratio were evaluated by analysis of sediment reference materials (IAEA-385 and IAEA-412) with different levels of plutonium and uranium. The developed method were successfully applied to determine 239 Pu and 240 Pu concentrations and 240 Pu/ 239 Pu atomic ratios in soil samples collected in coastal areas of eastern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to evaluate the bioavailability of Hg and Se in blacktip shark, Asian tiger shrimp and squid tube samples after three culinary treatments: boiling, frying and sautéing. Cooked and uncooked samples were evaluated for each seafood species with and without addition of spices (salt, lemon juice and garlic). After each culinary treatment, the seafood samples were freeze-dried, ground and stored for further analysis. The following parameters were evaluated and optimized: sample mass, sample size, cooking time and temperature. The determination of total concentration of Hg and Se was carried out by ICP-MS/MS. In order to minimize the memory effects for Hg, an integrated sample introduction system (ISIS) coupled with ICP-MS/MS was used employing water, 5% HNO 3 and 5 mg L −1 Au for the washing steps. No significant losses of Se in the seafood were observed after culinary treatments with and without spices. For Hg, losses for blacktip shark and Asian tiger shrimp were observed after boiling, frying and sautéing procedures (14 to 33%) with and without spices. Blacktip shark showed the highest Hg concentration, about 245% higher than the maximum level recommended by the official health organizations. The Se/Hg molar ratio was also determined in all samples and blacktip shark showed a Se/Hg molar ratio < 1 that can be considered to be a higher risk to health. Mercury presented a significant change in bioavailability due to the influence of all culinary treatments. However, the bioavailability of Se from cooked samples proved to be independent of the culinary treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The content of non-metallic impurities in high-purity tetramethylammonium hydroxide (HPTMAH) aqueous solution has an important influence on the yield, electrical properties and reliability of the integrated circuit during the process of chip etching and cleaning. Therefore, an efficient analytical method to directly quantify the content of non-metallic impurities in HPTMAH aqueous solutions is necessary. The present study was aimed to develop a novel method that can accurately determine seven non-metallic impurities (B, Si, P, S, Cl, As, and Se) in an aqueous solution of HPTMAH by inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS). The samples were measured using a direct injection method. In the MS/MS mode, oxygen and hydrogen were used as reaction gases in the octopole reaction system (ORS) to eliminate mass spectral interferences during the analytical process. The detection limits of B, Si, P, S, Cl, As, and Se were 0.31, 0.48, 0.051, 0.27, 3.10, 0.008, and 0.005 μg L −1 , respectively. The samples were analyzed by the developed method and the sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS) was used for contrastive analysis. The values of these seven elements measured using ICP-MS/MS were consistent with those measured by SF-ICP-MS. The proposed method can be utilized to analyze non-metallic impurities in HPTMAH aqueous solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

151Sm [half-life 94.7 (6) years] is a fission and activation product that requires accurate measurement as part of nuclear decommissioning. A procedure is outlined for the measurement of 151Sm in spiked graphite samples. Digestion is performed by automated lithium borate fusion, followed by extraction chromatography separation of 151Sm from interfering lanthanide isotopes, primarily europium. Measurement is carried out using tandem inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS), using the integrated collision/reaction cell as a rapid support to radiochemical separation of 151Sm from isobaric 151Eu using oxygen as a reactive gas, achieving detection limits below the out-of-scope limit for 151Sm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients receiving long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) are exposed to potentially toxic elements, which may accumulate in bone. Bone samples collected from seven PN patients (average = 14 years) and eighteen hip/knee samples were analyzed for Al as part of a previous investigation. Yttrium was serendipitously detected in the PN bone samples, leading to the present investigation of rare earth elements (REEs). A method for quantitating fifteen REEs in digested bone was developed based on tandem ICP-MS (ICP-MS/MS) to resolve spectral interferences. The method was validated against nine biological reference materials (RMs) for which assigned values were available for most REEs. Values found in two NIST bone SRMs (1400 Bone Ash and 1486 Bone Meal) compared favorably to those reported elsewhere. Method detection limits ranged from 0.9 ng g −1 (Tm) to 5.8 ng g −1 (Y). Median REE values in the PN patient group were at least fifteen times higher than the “control” group, and exceeded all previously reported data for eleven REEs in human bones. REE content in PN bones normalized to the Earth’s upper crust revealed anomalies for Gd in two patients, likely from exposure to Gd-containing contrast agents used in MRI studies. A retrospective review of the medical record for one patient revealed an almost certain case of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, associated with Gd exposure. Analysis of two current PN formulations showed traces of REEs with relative abundances similar to those found in the PN bones, providing convincing evidence that PN solutions were the primary source of REEs in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analytical method to accurately determine the presence of four toxic elements (As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) in medicine food homologous (MFH) plants using inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) was established. Fifty common MFH plants from different regions of China were analyzed and the range of values of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb were determined to be 66.3–2978.6 ng g −1 , 13.5–8107.1 ng g −1 , 1.7–325.6 ng g −1 , and 61.4–11428.5 ng g −1 , respectively. According to the standards of Chinese Pharmacopoeia (CP) 2010, the excess standard rates of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb were 14%, 16%, 6%, and 18%, respectively. On the basis of the limits set by the Chinese National Standards (CNS) GB 2762-2012, the excess standard rates of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb were 44%, 20%, 12%, and 34%, respectively. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the potential risk posed by toxic element contamination in MFH plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated platinum (Pt) concentrations are found in road dust as a result of emissions from catalytic converters in vehicles. This study investigates the occurrence of Pt in road dust collected in Ghent (Belgium) and Gothenburg (Sweden). Total Pt contents, determined by tandem ICP-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS), were in the range of 5 to 79 ng g − 1 , comparable to the Pt content in road dust of other medium-sized cities. Further sample characterization was performed by single particle (sp) ICP-MS following an ultrasonic extraction procedure using stormwater runoff for leaching. The method was found to be suitable for the characterization of Pt nanoparticles in road dust leachates. The extraction was optimized using road dust reference material BCR-723, for which an extraction efficiency of 2.7% was obtained by applying 144 kJ of ultrasonic energy. Using this method, between 0.2% and 18% of the Pt present was extracted from road dust samples. spICP-MS analysis revealed that Pt in the leachate is entirely present as nanoparticles of sizes between 9 and 21 nm. Although representing only a minor fraction of the total content in road dust, the nanoparticulate Pt leachate is most susceptible to biological uptake and hence most relevant in terms of bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-lived high abundance radionuclides are of increasing interest with regard to decommissioning of nuclear sites and longer term nuclear waste storage and disposal. In many cases, no routine technique is available for their measurement in nuclear waste and low-level (ng kg) environmental samples. Recent advances in ICP-MS technology offer attractive features for the selective and sensitive determination of a wide range of long-lived radionuclides. In this work, inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS)-based methodology, suitable for accurate routine determinations of Zr at very low (ng kg) levels in the presence of high levels (μg kg) of the isobaric interferents Nb and Mo (often present in nuclear waste samples), is reported for the first time. Additionally, a novel and systematic strategy for method development based on the use of non-radioactive isotopes is proposed. It relies on gas-phase chemical reactions for different molecular ion formation to achieve isobaric interference removal. Using cell gas mixtures of NH/He/H or H/O, and suitable mass shifts, the signal from the Nb and Mo isobaric interferences on Zr were suppressed by up to 5 orders of magnitude. The achieved limit of detection for Zr was 1.3 × 10 Bq g (equivalent to 0.14 ng kg). The sample analysis time is 2 min, which represents a significant improvement in terms of sample throughput, compared to liquid scintillation counting methods. The method described here can be used for routine measurements of Zr at environmentally relevant levels. It can also be combined with radiometric techniques for use towards the standardisation of Zr measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Speciation analysis of zinc and copper in plants-based drinks was examined. • Detection and identification of copper and zinc binding ligands based on using HPLC-ICP-MS/MS and HPLC-ESI-MS. • Copper and zinc binding ligands: amino acids, organic acids and nicotionamine were identified by HPLC-ESI-MS. • Two supporting techniques: HPLC-ICP-MS/MS and molecular identification in HPLC-ESI-MS, were examined. Over the past few years, the market for vegetarian and vegan products has been one of the fastest growing. There is an increasing trend of consumers limiting their meat intake and, therefore, a huge demand for vegan products. Substitutes for milk - plant-based drinks - are the most popular, followed by plant burgers, yoghurts, and cheese. For a better understanding of the bioavailability of elements and their effects on our bodies, it is crucial to know the nature of the occurrence of a specific element, not just its overall content. The application of combined experimental techniques, that is, the techniques of separation (HPLC) hyphenated with the element-specific (ICP-MS/MS) and molecular-specific detection technique (ESI-MS/MS), permits speciation analysis of metals present in trace amounts in the material studied (food products of plant origin) and identification of ligands involved in complexes. Identifying the groups of ligands binding metals in plants prompts further studies to determine the effect of the ligand on the metals' bioavailability and understand the factors that govern their absorption. In this study, they are used to identify the nature of ligands of copper and zinc complexes in widely used rice and millet-based drinks. The results obtained by the presented method permitted the identification of the ligands binding copper and zinc – amino acids, organic acids and the most studied plant metal chelator – nicotionamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isotopic signature of radionuclides provides a powerful tool for discriminating radioactive contamination sources and estimating their respective contributions in the environment. In this context, the 135Cs/137Cs ratio has been tested as a very promising isotopic ratio that had not been explored yet in many countries around the world including France. To quantify the levels of radioactivity found in the environment, a new method combining a thorough radiochemical treatment of the sample and an efficient measurement by ICP-MS/MS has been recently developed. This method was successfully applied, for the first time, to soil and sediment samples collected in France in two mountainous regions preferentially impacted either by global fallout from nuclear weapons testing (i.e., the Pyrenees) or by the Chernobyl accident (i.e., the Southern Alps). The 135Cs/137Cs ratios measured on twenty-one samples ranged from 0.66 ± 0.04 and 4.29 ± 0.21 (decay-corrected to January 1st, 2022) corresponding to the characteristic signatures of the fallout from Chernobyl and global fallout associated with the nuclear weapons testing, respectively. Moreover, large variations of both the 137Cs mass activity and the studied isotopic ratio recorded by most samples from the southern Alps suggest varying proportions of these two 137Cs sources. For these samples, the contribution of each source was estimated using this new tracer (135Cs/137Cs) and compared with the mixing contribution given by activity ratio: 239+240Pu/137Cs. This work has successfully demonstrated the applicability of the 135Cs/137Cs isotopic signature to nuclear forensic studies and could be extended to better evaluate the environmental impact of nuclear facilities (i.e., NPP, waste reprocessing). [Display omitted] • Lack of tools to identify the sources of radioactive contamination over the long term. • Applicability and added value of the 135Cs/137Cs ratio to identify nuclear contamination sources. • Estimation of contributions from each radioactive source in the environment. • Improving the knowledge of the 135Cs/137Cs isotopic signature characterizing nuclear weapons tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 241Am was measured as AmO+ by ICP-MS/MS with O 2 as reaction gas. • High separation factor (>2000) of Am/Pu by the instrument was obtained. • Extremely low background signals for the polyatomic interferences was achieved. • Rapid and easy chemical procedures for the separation of 241Am from solid samples were established. • 241Am in sediments collected from the western North Pacific were analyzed for radioactive assessment. The analysis of 241Am in environmental samples is of great importance in the fields of geological repositories and radiation protection. The triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) has a strong analytical and interference removal capability for long half-life radionuclides. In this study, the ability of ICP-MS/MS to determine ultra-trace level of 241Am in environmental samples was further explored. The instrumental sensitivity for Am detection was significantly improved (ca. 20 times) by employing an APEX-Ω high efficiency introduction system. The gases of O 2 and He were introduced to the reaction cell for eliminating of interferences and Am was detected as AmO+ ions. High separation factors (>2000) of Am and Pu were obtained at proper gas flow rates by chemical resolution of the instrument. Meanwhile, the background signals caused by possible polyatomic interferences for 241Am and 243Am were sufficiently reduced. A simple and rapid chromatographic separation method for purposeful and efficient separation of 241Am from matrix and interfering elements was developed. The overall chemical recoveries were about 68% and the detection limit of 241Am for the established method was 0.18 fg g−1 (equivalent to 0.02 mBq g−1). Several marine sediment reference materials were analyzed for the validation of the method and the results showed that this method was suitable for the determination of 241Am in solid environmental samples. The method was finally applied to real marine sediment samples collected in the western North Pacific after the Fukushima nuclear accident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear power plant accidents release radioactive strontium 90 ( 90 Sr) into the environment. Monitoring of 90 Sr, although important, is difficult and time consuming because it emits only beta radiation. We have developed a new analytical system that enables real-time analysis of 90 Sr in atmospheric particulate matter with an analytical run time of only 10 min. Briefly, after passage of an air sample through an impactor, a small fraction of the sample is introduced into a gas-exchange device, where the air is replaced by Ar. Then the sample is directly introduced into an inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) system equipped with a collision/reaction cell to eliminate isobaric interferences on 90 Sr from 90 Zr + , 89 Y 1 H + , and 90 Y + . Experiments with various reaction gas conditions revealed that these interferences could be minimized under the following optimized conditions: 1.0 mL min − 1 O 2 , 10.0 mL min − 1 H 2 , and 1.0 mL min − 1 NH 3 . The estimated background equivalent concentration and estimated detection limit of the system were 9.7 × 10 − 4 and 3.6 × 10 − 4 ng m − 3 , respectively, which are equivalent to 4.9 × 10 − 6 and 1.8 × 10 − 6 Bq cm − 3 . Recoveries of Sr in PM 2.5 measured by real-time analysis compared to those obtained by simultaneously collection on filter was 53 ± 23%, and using this recovery, the detection limit as PM 2.5 was estimated to be 3.4 ± 1.5 × 10 − 6 Bq cm − 3 . That is, this system enabled detection of 90 Sr at concentrations < 5 × 10 − 6 Bq cm − 3 even considering the insufficient fusion/vaporization/ionization efficiency of Sr in PM 2.5 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Die Verbrennung schwefelhaltiger Treibstoffe führt zu Umweltproblemen. Deshalb gelten strenge Bestimmungen, die den Schwefelgehalt von Treibstoffen auf wenige ppm begrenzen. Angesichts der Verringerung schwefelarmer Erdölquellen werden immer größere technische Anstrengungen nötig, diese Bestimmungen einzuhalten. Die Entschwefelung ist ein kritischer Teil im Rahmen des Raffinierungsprozesses, welcher jedoch nicht vollständig verläuft und der angesichts der Komplexität der vielen verschiedenen Stoffklassen auch nicht völlig verstanden ist. Wir stellen hier einen neuen Ansatz vor, um drei Klassen von Schwefelverbindungen in Erdöl mithilfe einer LC ‐ Trennung und Detektion per ICP ‐ MS/MS zu quantifizieren. Diese neue, einfache Methode sollte helfen, den Anteil schwer entschwefelbarer Verbindungen abzuschätzen und so den Entschwefelungsprozess zu optimieren. Schwefel in Öl: Die Entschwefelung von Erdöl ist die vermutlich meistgenutzte katalytische Reaktion in der Industrie. Die Optimierung der Reaktion basiert allerdings nicht auf molekularen Informationen, sondern auf Bulk ‐ Parametern, die keinerlei Strukturinformationen beinhalten. Hier wird eine quantitative und qualitative Analyse vorgestellt, die es mit detaillierten Informationen erlaubt, derart wichtige Prozesse auf Basis molekularer Informationen zu optimieren. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the environmental hazards arising from sulfur-containing combustion products, strong legal regulations exist to reduce the sulfur content of transportation fuels down to a few ppm. With the ongoing depletion of low-sulfur crude oil reservoirs, increased technological efforts are needed for crude oil refining to meet these requirements. The desulfurization step is a critical part of the refining process but partly suffers from the recalcitrance of certain species to sulfur removal and the inability to quantitatively understand the behavior of individual compound classes during the process. We herein present a new and simple approach for the parallel quantification of three different classes of sulfur species present in crude oils by LC separation and on-line detection and quantification by ICP-MS/MS. This approach will help to estimate the amount of recalcitrant species and thus facilitate the optimization of desulfurization conditions during fuel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work a new procedure for the determination of ultra-trace concentrations of Mo in plants is proposed. Microwave-assisted acid digestion of plants were performed without H 2 O 2 in order to minimize contaminations and obtain lower procedure's blank. Solutions with different HNO 3 concentrations were evaluated to digest the samples and 7 or 1 mol L − 1 HNO 3 solutions led to similar carbon residual contents. Since, analytical blank was a critical issue all samples were microwave-assisted digested using only 5 mL of 1 mol L − 1 HNO 3 . For Mo determinations in plant materials an ICP-MS with tandem configuration (ICP-MS/MS) with an octopole reaction system (ORS 3 ) pressurized with oxygen gas and operating in MS/MS mode was employed to overcome polyatomic interferences caused by K, a major element in plants. Higher sensitivity was achieved for the determination of Mo using the mass-shift dioxide form (MoO 2 + ) obtained with O 2 gas flow rate at 0.2 mL min − 1 . The limit of detection of the analytical procedure was 260 pg g − 1 . Molybdenum was quantified in six certified reference materials: apple leaves (NIST 1515), peach leaves (NIST 1547), trace elements in spinach leaves (NIST 1570), tomato leaves (NIST 1573), wheat flour (NIST 1567a) and rice flour (NIST 1568b) for accuracy assessment. Recoveries for Mo were in the 100.0–109.6% range and analytical results were in agreement with certified values at a 95% confidence levels ( t -test). The procedure was applied for determination of Mo in 7 different samples of sugar cane, corn leaves and roots, and rice flour and the concentrations were in the 0.39 to 3.81 μg g − 1 range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentration of twelve trace elements in the water decoction of medicine food homology plants (MFHP) was determined by inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS). Water decoctions of MFHP were analyzed directly using the MS/MS mode after acidification by 1% (v/v) nitric acid. The polyatomic interferences were eliminated by oxygen mass shift, oxygen on-mass, and ammonia mass shift. The accuracy of the method was verified by analysis of standard reference materials. This method was utilized to investigate the water decoction composition of 16 common Chinese MFHPs. The trace elements in the water decoctions of different MFHPs presented significantly different dissolution ratios. The dissolution ratio of V was the lowest (4.21%–14.86%), whereas Zn showed the highest dissolution ratio (24.87%–86.80%). In addition, the dissolution ratio of heavy metallic elements in most MFHP was equal to or was lower than 30%. Therefore, consumption of MHFP decoction could decrease the heavy metal intake associated with MFHP use and reduce the risk of heavy metal poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a rapid high-throughput screening platform using a modified ICP-MS/MS system for monovalence metal ions catalysts discovery in azide–alkyne cycloaddition. Among the ten monovalence metal ions in the first row of periodic table containing Sc + , Ti + , V + , Cr + , Mn + , Fe + , Co + , Ni + , Cu + , and Zn + , five monovalence metal ions of Sc + , Co + , Ni + , Cu + and Zn + ions show relatively stronger catalytic activities than others. The catalytic mechanism of Sc + , Co + and Ni + ions is similar to the Cu + ions, but Zn + ions take a different catalytic route. A yields range of 77–98% for azide-alkyne cycloaddition was achieved with Sc + , Co + , Ni + , Cu + and Zn + ions as catalyst, respectively by using a UV laser ablation reactor in 20 min, notable that the yields of Co + and Sc + ions were even higher than the common catalyst of Cu + ions. The proposed platform would be used not only for catalyst discovery in azide-alkyne cycloaddition, but also for the discovery of single atom/ion catalysts in other organic reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports from the US media have raised the attention towards a possible contamination of apple juices by As. The study here described presents the development of an analytical procedure using inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) for determination of As in apple and orange juices commercialized in the Tetra Pack package. The microwave-assisted acid digestion of juice was carried out using closed vessels and 2 mol/L HNO plus HO. These conditions are favorable for a better analytical blank control. Suitable recoveries were reached when promoting reaction with O inside the octopole reaction system (ORS), and the monitoring of AsO significantly improved the accuracy of the analysis reaching a limit of detection of 0.013 μg/L. Recoveries varied from 88 to 109 % in the MS/MS mass-shift mode. The As concentrations determined in fruit juices ranged from 0.126 to 1.45 μg/L, and they were significantly lower than the maximum tolerable limits imposed by the US and Brazilian legislations. Thus, ICP-MS/MS operated in the reaction mode was an effective instrumental strategy for overcoming spectral interferences, such as ArCl, in As determination as AsO and allowed the accurate determination of As at trace levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A procedure for the determination of As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, and V in phytotherapy medicines by inductively coupled plasma–tandem mass spectrometry is reported. The use of tandem mass spectrometry with oxygen into an octopole reaction system at various gas flow rates and the combination of on-mass and mass-shift modes was evaluated. Cadmium, Cr, Ni, and Pb were determined as free atomic ions while As and V were determined as the oxides AsO+and VO+in the same run. Samples were prepared by microwave-assisted digestion with dilute nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. Two plant-certified reference materials (apple leaves and tomato leaves) were used to check the accuracy. For tandem mass spectrometry with 0.5 mL min−1O2, recoveries in the 85–113% were typically obtained and no statistical differences were observed at the 95% confidence level (t-test) in comparison with the certified values. Using these conditions, the limits of detection for the method were 0.01, 0.0002, 0.008, 0.008, 0.003, and 0.002 µg g−1for As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, and V, respectively. The procedure was used for the analysis of four phytotherapic drugs and the determined concentrations were up to 0.168 µg g−1As, 0.03 µg g−1Cd, 0.82 µg g−1Cr, 1.18 µg g−1Ni, 0.52 µg g−1Pb, and 2.4 µg g−1V with average precision values of 8% as the relative standard deviation. The found concentrations were compared with limits proposed in official guidelines and, in most cases, the values were below the maximum limits allowed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

High-level, long-lived nuclear waste arising from spent fuel reprocessing is vitrified in silicate glasses for final disposal in deep geologic formations. In order to better understand the mechanisms driving glass dissolution, glass alteration studies, based on silicon isotope ratio monitoring of 29 Si-doped aqueous solutions, were carried out in laboratories. This work explores the capabilities of the new type of quadrupole-based ICP-MS, the Agilent 8800 tandem quadrupole ICP-MS/MS, for accurate silicon isotope ratio determination for alteration studies of nuclear waste glasses. In order to avoid silicon polyatomic interferences, a new analytical method was developed using O 2 as the reaction gas in the Octopole Reaction System (ORS), and silicon isotopes were measured in mass-shift mode. A careful analysis of the potential polyatomic interferences on SiO + and SiO 2 + ion species was performed, and we found that SiO + ion species suffer from important polyatomic interferences coming from the matrix of sample and standard solutions (0.5M HNO 3 ). For SiO 2 + , no interferences were detected, and thus, these ion species were chosen for silicon isotope ratio determination. A number of key settings for accurate isotope ratio analysis like, detector dead time, integration time, number of sweeps, wait time offset, memory blank and instrumental mass fractionation, were considered and optimized. Particular attention was paid to the optimization of abundance sensitivity of the quadrupole mass filter before the ORS. We showed that poor abundance sensitivity leads to a significant shift of the data away from the Exponential Mass Fractionation Law (EMFL) due to the spectral overlaps of silicon isotopes combined with different oxygen isotopes (i.e. 28 Si 16 O 18 O + , 30 Si 16 O 16 O + ). The developed method was validated by measuring a series of reference solutions with different 29 Si enrichment. Isotope ratio trueness, uncertainty and repeatability were found to be <0.2%, <0.5% and <0.6%, respectively. These performances meet the requirements of the studies of nuclear glasses alteration and open up possibilities to use this method for precise determination of silicon content in natural samples by Isotope Dilution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determination of trace element contents in crude oils constitutes a powerful geochemical tool, complementing organic geochemical analyses and allowing a deeper insight into the processes of oil generation, migration and maturation. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been widely applied to trace element determination in petroleum samples due to its low detection limits and fast multi-element capability. However, quantification of several elements by quadrupole-based ICP-MS is hampered by low sensitivity due to high ionisation energy, severe polyatomic interferences and/or low abundance. In the present contribution an ICP tandem mass spectrometer (ICP-MS/MS), or triple quadrupole ICP-MS (ICP-QQQ-MS) has been used to overcome these limitations. Prior to analysis, samples were subjected to high pressure acid digestion, allowing external calibration by means of aqueous standards. 25 elements, including P, S, the first-row transition metals, As, Se, Re, Pb and U, could be quantified in one measurement. Polyatomic interferences on the lighter elements could be removed by reaction of the target ions with O 2 or NH 3 in the collision/reaction cell of the ICP-MS/MS. The accuracy of the analytical method was assessed by the analysis of the standard reference materials NIST SRM 1634c (trace elements in fuel oil) and 1084a (wear-metals in lubricating oil). The measurement procedure was applied to the analysis of crude oil samples from the Alpine Foreland Basin of Austria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple-quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-QQQ-MS) is a unique analytical technique which is, next to speciation analyses, applied for the determination of total element concentrations in several matrices. Due to its wide linear range, short analysis times, and the collision-reaction gas technology, it is capable of addressing a high number of analytes in a single run with sufficient low limits of quantification for river water monitoring. Over the last decades, the focus of the environmental monitoring changed from "traditional" and regulated analytes to elements of possibly rising concern from new applications such as the so-called technology-critical elements (TCE). By widening the analytical window of this method for applications in networks of future river water monitoring, a better understanding of natural transport processes and global biogeochemical element cycles will be established and the total number of methods can be reduced. During method development and validation, certified reference materials, calibration check solutions, and spiked river water samples from 12 major German rivers covering different catchment areas were measured and evaluated with the three cell gases He, H 2 and O 2. The method delivers a best as possible undisturbed simultaneous determination for 68 out of 71 target analytes with recoveries in an accepted range of 80–120% for river water samples (dissolved fraction; <0.45 μm). After comprehensive evaluation, we offer a novel best-practice multi-element method for river water monitoring with the goal of fostering the exchange and discussion between practitioners in long-term river monitoring. It enables the readers to create their own methods based on the scientific needs to monitor elemental "fingerprints" of rivers and their catchments. [Display omitted] • First best-practice advice for a single-run quantification of 68 elements. • Best-practice advice for multi-element analysis of surface waters via ICP-QQQ-MS. • Readers can simply derive own methods from the method developed and validated. • Addresses multi-element challenges from analyte-analyte- to analyte-matrix-effects. • Opens the door to a better monitoring and understanding of global element dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isotopic signature of radionuclides provides a powerful tool for discriminating radioactive contamination sources and estimating their respective contributions in the environment. In this context, the 135 Cs/ 137 Cs ratio has been tested as a very promising isotopic ratio that had not been explored yet in many countries around the world including France. To quantify the levels of radioactivity found in the environment, a new method combining a thorough radiochemical treatment of the sample and an efficient measurement by ICP-MS/MS has been recently developed. This method was successfully applied, for the first time, to soil and sediment samples collected in France in two mountainous regions preferentially impacted either by global fallout from nuclear weapons testing (i.e., the Pyrenees) or by the Chernobyl accident (i.e., the Southern Alps). The 135 Cs/ 137 Cs ratios measured on twenty-one samples ranged from 0.66 ± 0.04 and 4.29 ± 0.21 (decay-corrected to January 1st, 2022) corresponding to the characteristic signatures of the fallout from Chernobyl and global fallout associated with the nuclear weapons testing, respectively. Moreover, large variations of both the 137 Cs mass activity and the studied isotopic ratio recorded by most samples from the southern Alps suggest varying proportions of these two 137 Cs sources. For these samples, the contribution of each source was estimated using this new tracer ( 135 Cs/ 137 Cs) and compared with the mixing contribution given by activity ratio: 239+240 Pu/ 137 Cs. This work has successfully demonstrated the applicability of the 135 Cs/ 137 Cs isotopic signature to nuclear forensic studies and could be extended to better evaluate the environmental impact of nuclear facilities (i.e., NPP, waste reprocessing)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Determination of 99Tc in various environmental samples is important not only for radioactive assessment but also for geochemical studies. In this work, we aim to develop a method for the monitoring of 99Tc in solid environmental samples. Alkali fusion instead of acid digestion was used for the dissolution of Tc from the sample. Therefore, the loss of Tc during sample preparation was negligible. The adsorption behavior of Re (as an analog of Tc) on the TRans Uranium elements (TRU) resin was investigated. Based on the results, for the first time, a simple separation method for Tc was established by using TRU resin in alkaline solution. Water was used for the elution of Tc from the resin column and the eluent could be directly injected to triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) for Tc measurement. The chemical recoveries for solid environmental samples (< 1 g) were beyond 85% and the whole analytical procedure could be finished within 3.5 h. High decontamination factors were obtained for the interfering elements. Mo isobaric interference was further removed by the introduction of O 2 into the instrument as reaction gas. The detection limit of 99Tc was calculated to be 0.04 pg g-1 (for 1 g solid sample). Th developed method was suitable for the rapid monitoring of 99Tc in solid environmental samples for emergency response. Geological samples were used for method validation and the method was finally used for the determination of 99Tc in real radioactive contaminated samples. [Display omitted] • Lab prepared 97Tc tracer was employed for 99Tc determination. • Rapid alkali fusion was used for Tc dissolution from solid environmental samples. • Tc was separated by using a single TRU column directly in alkaline solution. • ICP-MS/MS measurement with O 2 as reaction gas ensured the sufficiently remove of trace amount of Mo interference. • This method was suitable for rapid monitoring of 99Tc for emergency response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]