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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
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A Practical Guide on Coupling a Scanning Mobility Sizer and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (SMPS-ICPMS)
Published on: July 11, 2017
A multi-element mapping approach for size-segregated atmospheric particles using laser ablation ICP-MS combined with
Saso Gligorovski1, Johannes T Van Elteren, Irena Grgić
1Universités d'Aix-Marseille I, II, III - CNRS, UMR 6264: Laboratoire Chimie Provence, Equipe Instrumentation et Réactivité Atmosphérique, 3 Place Victor Hugo, 13331 Marseille Cedex 03, France.
The Science of the Total Environment
|November 1, 2008
Summary
This study introduces laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) mapping for elemental mass loading in aerosol particles. This method accurately visualizes and quantifies particle composition, even for nanoparticles.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Atmospheric Science
Background:
- Accurate elemental mass loading determination in size-segregated aerosol particles is crucial for understanding atmospheric processes and health impacts.
- Conventional methods like wet-chemical leaching often lack the sensitivity for analyzing nanoparticles or require complex sample preparation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) mapping approach for elemental mass loading in aerosol particles.
- To compare the performance of this new method with traditional wet-chemical leaching techniques.
Main Methods:
- Utilized laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) mapping combined with image analysis software.
- Optimized LA-ICP-MS parameters (resolution, sensitivity, analysis time) for different particle sizes and mass loadings.
- Employed whole-spot mapping of impaction spots to account for sampling artifacts, validated against NIST 2783 air particulate standard.
Main Results:
- Successfully visualized and digitally analyzed elemental mass loading in size-segregated urban and industry-influenced aerosol particles.
- Obtained distribution profiles comparable to conventional wet-chemical leaching methods.
- Demonstrated superior sensitivity, enabling elemental concentration measurement in nanoparticles, which was not feasible with leaching methods.
Conclusions:
- LA-ICP-MS mapping provides a powerful, sensitive, and direct method for determining elemental mass loading in size-segregated aerosol particles.
- Whole-spot mapping is essential to mitigate artifacts from cascade impactor sampling.
- This technique offers significant advantages over traditional methods, particularly for nanoparticle analysis.
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