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Detection of nanoparticles by single-particle ICP-MS with complete transport efficiency through direct nebulization at few-microlitres-per-minute uptake rates
- Source :
- Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Springer Verlag, 2020
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Measurement of nanoparticle (NP) concentration and size by single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) usually requires the use of a NP reference material to determine the loss of NPs and/or ions during their transport from the sample solution to the detection system. The determination of this loss, qualified as nebulization efficiency (ηNebulization) and/or transport efficiency (ηTransport), is time-consuming, costly and lacks reliability. Nebulization of the NPs directly into the plasma (without a spray chamber) results in ηNebulization = 100% and is thus a promising strategy to avoid these calibration steps. In this work, we used the μ-dDIHEN introduction system: a demountable direct injection high-efficiency nebulizer (dDIHEN) hyphenated to a flow-injection valve and a gas displacement pump. For the first time with a continuous flow nebulizer, complete transport efficiency was reached (i.e. ηTransport = 100%). Operated at a very low uptake rate (as low as 8 μL min−1), the μ-dDIHEN accurately and reproducibly determined average diameters of Au-, Ag- and Pt-NPs, in full agreement with their reference values. It was also successfully tested for Au-NPs in complex matrices, such as surface waters. spICP-MS analyses with the μ-dDIHEN sample introduction system only require a dissolved standard calibration to determine NP average diameter (dNPs in nm) and number concentration (NNPs) from the simplified set of equations: $$ \overline{d_{NPs}}=\sqrt[3]{\frac{6.\kern0.5em \left(\overline{I_{NPs}}-{I}_{bckgd}\right).\kern0.5em {t}_d.{q}_{liq}}{S.\kern0.5em {f}_a.\kern0.5em \pi .\kern0.5em \rho }} $$ and $$ \overline{N_{NPs}}=\frac{\overline{D_{NPs}}}{q_{liq}.\kern0.5em D.\kern0.5em {t}_{d.}} $$ Graphical abstract
- Subjects :
- Materials science
Average diameter
Continuous flow
010401 analytical chemistry
Analytical chemistry
Nanoparticle
02 engineering and technology
021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology
01 natural sciences
Biochemistry
0104 chemical sciences
Analytical Chemistry
Ion
[CHIM.ANAL]Chemical Sciences/Analytical chemistry
Reference values
Particle
Uptake rate
0210 nano-technology
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 16182650 and 16182642
- Volume :
- 413
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....85b9e3efe3c22c4e1e278673cf302918