Purchase of an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer

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Oregon State University will receive partial funding for acquisition of an inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer(ICP-MS). This new analytical capability will be established within the Dept, of Oceanography for broad use within the University. ICP-MS is a relatively new technology that is useful in the analysis of many types of geophysical fluid and solid samples and greatly facilitates the detection of certain elements such as barium, cobalt, and noble metals. Samples are introduced into an argon plasma after vaporiza- tion by one of several processes including laser excitation. The plasma is then subsampled by the mass spectrometer, separated into discrete mass regions, and focused onto an electromultiplier detector. The instrument can detect more than 70 elements in the sub-part-per-billion concentration range and is able to measure major and trace elements simultaneously, thereby reducing analysis time. ICP-MS generates a mass spectrum and its sensitivity and versatility lends itself to a wide range of scientific applications ranging from geochemistry, to paleooceanography to ceramic chemistry. The new instrument will serve a number of NSF- sponsored investigators at OSU. The University and the U.S. Dept. of Energy are providing substantial cost-sharing for the establishment of this capability.