PERFORMANCE-CHARACTERISTICS OF INDUCTIVELY-COUPLED PLASMA-MASS SPECTROMETRY WITH HIGH-MASS RESOLUTION

A laboratory prototype is described of a new ICP-MS system with high m ass resolution, based on a double focusing magnetic field analyser, wh ich has been especially designed for application in elemental analysis . The performance characteristics of this instrument are summarized co mparing operation in a low resolution mode (R = 300) and a high resolu tion mode (R = 3000) with reference to common quadrupole instruments w ith (nearly) unit resolution. Most of the typical spectral interferenc es can be resolved. Detection limits were achieved of one order of mag nitude and more below those obtained with quadrupole instruments. Seve ral operational features of the instrument are described.