In this webinar we will focus on Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS).
Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is a microanalytical technique for direct elemental and isotopic analysis. In LA-ICP-MS, material is removed from a solid sample using a pulsed laser; the ablated material is swept into the ICP-MS by a carrier gas. This contrasts with the more common solution ICP-MS in which a liquid sample is aerosolized by a nebulizer to facilitate introduction to the mass spectrometer.
LA-ICP-MS is capable of measuring trace, minor, and major elements and collecting qualitative, semi-quantitative, or fully quantitative data. LA-ICP-MS is not limited by sample electrical conductivity, vacuum stability, or optical transparency/opacity. As a microanalytical technique, laser ablation requires substantially less sample mass than solution ICP-MS. In addition to facilitating analysis of samples too small for solution ICP-MS, laser ablation is ideally suited to analysis of difficult to digest materials like refractory minerals.
LA-ICP-MS typically requires no chemical preparation of samples. Many samples can be analyzed as received, while some may require mechanical preparation to ensure that the sample fits in the laser ablation cell and presents a smooth and flat surface. LA-ICP-MS can thus be considered a relatively fast (no to minimal preparation), clean (fewer opportunities for contamination), and green (no hazardous waste generated, and minimal consumables used) technique.