Evaluating accuracy improvements of laser ablation ICPMS element analysis in silicate glasses and carbonates via downhole fractionation correction – an old problem re-assessed
Evaluating accuracy improvements of laser ablation ICPMS element analysis in silicate glasses and carbonates via downhole fractionation correction – an old problem re-assessed
Non-matrix-matched calibration of laser ablation ICPMS (trace/major) element data is a common quantification strategy. However, LA sampling is associated with downhole elemental fractionation, potentially causing inaccuracies if the magnitude of fractionation between the sample and reference material (RM) differs. Here, we estimate fractionation factors (FFs) for different elements (El) in a range of RMs relative to NIST SRM610/612 (FFEl/Ca-NIST) and evaluate element-specific corrections for downhole fractionation using these measured FFEl/Ca-NIST. Significantly different mean El/Ca values were observed before and after correction, particularly for the alkali elements (all RMs), and B, Fe, and Zn (some RMs), notably improving accuracy, especially for the alkali elements. In cases where this methodology does not result in an accuracy improvement, this may help identify underlying issues in reported/reference values for RMs, given that this phenomenon should be accounted for. Overall, we recommend considering routine assessment of FFs and applying a FF correction to enhance data quality.
1454-1460
Nambiar, Romi
072685f3-79ae-46b9-b7b7-0de4b574d7f9
Müller, Wolfgang
360a71f7-0b47-4ff3-8c32-1912d70401aa
Evans, David
878c65c7-eab9-4362-896b-166e165eb94b
16 April 2024
Nambiar, Romi
072685f3-79ae-46b9-b7b7-0de4b574d7f9
Müller, Wolfgang
360a71f7-0b47-4ff3-8c32-1912d70401aa
Evans, David
878c65c7-eab9-4362-896b-166e165eb94b
Nambiar, Romi, Müller, Wolfgang and Evans, David
(2024)
Evaluating accuracy improvements of laser ablation ICPMS element analysis in silicate glasses and carbonates via downhole fractionation correction – an old problem re-assessed.
Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 39 (6), .
(doi:10.1039/D4JA00018H).
Abstract
Non-matrix-matched calibration of laser ablation ICPMS (trace/major) element data is a common quantification strategy. However, LA sampling is associated with downhole elemental fractionation, potentially causing inaccuracies if the magnitude of fractionation between the sample and reference material (RM) differs. Here, we estimate fractionation factors (FFs) for different elements (El) in a range of RMs relative to NIST SRM610/612 (FFEl/Ca-NIST) and evaluate element-specific corrections for downhole fractionation using these measured FFEl/Ca-NIST. Significantly different mean El/Ca values were observed before and after correction, particularly for the alkali elements (all RMs), and B, Fe, and Zn (some RMs), notably improving accuracy, especially for the alkali elements. In cases where this methodology does not result in an accuracy improvement, this may help identify underlying issues in reported/reference values for RMs, given that this phenomenon should be accounted for. Overall, we recommend considering routine assessment of FFs and applying a FF correction to enhance data quality.
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d4ja00018h
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Accepted/In Press date: 4 April 2024
Published date: 16 April 2024
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Local EPrints ID: 503555
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/503555
ISSN: 0267-9477
PURE UUID: 0edfdef8-6cc9-4043-96c6-f8a2c23c24a4
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Date deposited: 05 Aug 2025 16:39
Last modified: 22 Aug 2025 02:46
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Author:
Romi Nambiar
Author:
Wolfgang Müller
Author:
David Evans
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