High spatial resolution trace element analysis by LA-ICP-MS using a novel ablation cell for multiple or large samples

An ablation cell was developed to host large or several small samples (up to dimensions 230 mm × 34 mm × 16 mm, L × W × D) for high spatial resolution analysis. The performance of the cell was tested using silicate glass NIST SRM 610 and steel CRM JK-2D. To obtain high resolution profiles of trace element distributions, the ablation cell must offer fast washout of the aerosol to decrease mixing of the particles from different laser pulses. The washout of the new ablation cell is 70% faster when compared to the standard ablation cell previously applied in our laboratory and provides washout times within 2.6 s for 99.9% of the signal. Gas flow patterns in the cell were modeled by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and validated by measurements on two reference materials. To demonstrate the potential of the ablation cell, p-(hydroxymercuri)benzoic acid (pHMB) derivatised ovalbumin was ablated from polyacrylamide gels after electrophoretic separation.The evaluation of the ablation cell demonstrates high resolution capabilities on large solid samples. It promises to have a significant impact on numerous applications, such as imaging of biological samples or trace element determinations on climate archives (e.g., stalagmites).

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► Ablation cell design for fast washout of laser generated aerosol.
► High spatial resolution LA-ICP-MS for analysis of large heterogeneous samples.
► Detection of Hg-derivatised ovalbumin in electrophoresis gel with LA-ICP-MS.