Multielement determination of rare earth elements in geochemical samples by liquid chromatography/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A system of liquid chromatography combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been applied to the determination of rare ea rth elements (REEs) in geochemical standard reference samples. In liquid ch romatography, a strong ion-exchange resin was employed as a stationary phas e and ammonium lactate was used as a mobile phase. Multielement detection b y ICP-MS was performed in the peak hopping mode to measure the chromatogram s for all REEs at the corresponding mass numbers. REEs in the standard rock sample (GSJ JB-1) and the standard sediment sample (Pond Sediment; NIES No .2) were determined by the present measurement system without any correctio n of the matrix effect and polyatomic ion interferences.