Calibration of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometryusing standard additions with dried solution aerosols

A standard additions method for calibrating the response of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) is assessed. Desolv ated particles from an ultrasonic nebulizer and particles from an ablation cell are introduced simultaneously to a twin quadrupole ICPMS. Matrix-match ed or pelletized solid standards are not required, and the solution standar ds are easily prepared. The transport of sample particles from the LA cell and of aerosol particles from the solution nebulizer must be measured. The relative accuracy for the analysis of steel reference materials is a few pe rcent, which is comparable to that obtained with matched solid standards.