Improved Cd determination in glasses by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using nitrogen as a matrix modifier

The addition of 5–10 mL min−1 nitrogen to the central channel of plasma in Laser ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) increases the sensitivities of Cd by a factor of 3 and decreases oxide interferences by one order of magnitude, which allows the direct analysis of trace levels of Cd in glass samples. This simple method shows a great potential for the direct determination of Cd in various kinds of samples.