7700 Series ICP-MS

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers (ICP-MS) are analytical instruments designed for the detection and quantification of trace elements in liquid samples. The class combines an inductively coupled plasma source, which atomizes and ionizes the sample, with a mass spectrometer that separates ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio.

In an ICP-MS, the liquid sample is nebulized into a fine aerosol and carried into an argon plasma that reaches temperatures high enough to atomize and ionize most elements. The resulting ions are extracted through a sampling cone and focused by a series of ion lenses into the mass analyzer.

The mass analyzer, typically a quadrupole, separates ions by their mass-to-charge ratio. A detector counts the ions at each mass, producing a mass spectrum that shows the elemental composition of the sample. The entire process is computer-controlled, allowing automated analysis of multiple samples.

Common applications include trace metal analysis in environmental water and soil samples, quality control of ultrapure chemicals in semiconductor manufacturing, detection of heavy metals in food and pharmaceutical products, and isotopic ratio measurements in geochemistry.