ICP-MS is based on the formation of (preferentially monovalent positively)charged atomic ions in an inductively coupled Ar plasma at almost 10 000 K. The ions formed are transferred from the plasma source at ambient pressure into a mass Separator operated at high vacuum via a set of cones. The ions are separate«! according to their mass/charge ratio in the mass Separator (quadrupole, magnetic sector field or time-of-flight mass Separator). In most cases, the ions are detected using a secondaiy electron multiplier; in some set-ups (also) a Faraday cup can be used. Single-collector (scanning mass spectrometer usually used for quantitative elemental analysis) or multicollector (static Operation of mass spectrometer for precise isotope ratio analysis) configurations can be found.
The aim of this series of two reviews is to introduce the basic concepts of ICP and GD sector field instruments, to discuss their peculiarities and performance, to present selected analytical applications for demonstration of the 'state of the art' and, finally, to identify possible future trends and developments. Part I focuses on fundamentals, instrumentation and operation of instruments to give an overview of the capabilities of the actual commercially available instrumentation, whereas selected applications will be discussed in detail in part II.
Technical background
(2015)
The major components of sector field instruments can be listed as follows and will be described in more detail in the following chapter. (Specific details for the different types of instruments will be given in the corresponding instrumental sections in Chapters 11-17.) The general principle of all mass spectrometers follows ionisation after sample introduction, Separation of the ions according to their mlz ratio and final detection at the detection unit. The transport and Separation of ions follow the principles of ion optics.