Precise measurement of isotope ratios with a double-focusing magnetic sector ICP mass spectrometer

The potential of a commercially available double-focusing magnetic sector ICP mass spectrometer (Element, Finnigan MAT, Bremen, Germany) for precise isotope ratio measurement at the low-resolution setting (R = 300) was evaluated. Optimization of scanning conditions led to a relative standard deviation for a set of 10 consecutive 2 min measurements of similar to 0.1% (Pb-206(+)/Pb-207(+)) at signal intensities of similar to 200 000 counts/s (peak height). This compares favorably with the best values ever reported for quadrupole ICPMS and barely exceeds the theoretical value (counting statistics). increasing the signal intensity to values greater than or equal to 500 000 counts/s (peak height) resulted in a further reduction of the RSDs obtained (for both Mg-25(+)/Mg-26(+) and Pb-206(+)/Pb-207(+)) to typically 0.04%. These figures are remarkably better than those reported for commercially available quadrupole ICPMS systems. This improvement significantly reduces the difference between isotope ratio precision of ICPMS on one hand and those of thermal ionization mass spectrometry and plasma source multiple collector mass spectrometry on the other.