Spectromètres de masse ICP

The Lyon Lab of Geology hosts at the ENS a number of mass spectrometers called ICPMS, i.e. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometers. These are labeled Moyen National by the INSU of the CNRS. The detection system allows measuring isotopic ratios using multi-collector (MC-ICP-MS) or concentrations using quadrupoles (classic ICP-MS). The laboratory hosts 3 MC-ICP-MS, 4 ICP-MS, 1 ICP-OES (optical ICP) and 1 TIMS, which is a multi-collector mass spectrometer with thermal ionization.

MC-ICP-MS

The Nu 1700 of Lyon, the third MC-ICP-MS of its generation to have a full high resolution, has been installed at the Laboratoire des Sciences de la Terre de Lyon in June 2008. This instrument allows high precision isotopic measurements for elements usually interfered with the ICP technique (i.e. Fe, S, Si…). A dedicated building has been specially built to house the instrument with harsh specifications in terms of vibrations, temperature and hygrometry.

The Nu 1700                                                                                 and its building (read more on the installation)

The Nu 500 has been shipped to the lab in 2005 in the interim of the Nu 1700’s arrival. It lived therefore few years together with the Plasma 54. In 2012, the lab has been equipped with a Neptune Plus.

The Nu500                                                                                      The Neptune Plus

ICP-MS

The lab also hosts 4 ICP-MS for the measurements of concentrations.The Element 2 is a high-resolution ICP-MS dedicated for ultra-trace elements, the Agilent 7500 CX is for routine analysis, the new iCAP-Q is dedicated for biology/medicine analysis, and the X7 SII is classically hyphenated to the laser ablation.

Element 2                                                                                           Agilent 7500 CX      

iCAP-Q                                                                                               X7 SII

An Optical Emission Spectrometry ICP (ICP-OES), the iCap, is for major elements analysis.

Laser ablation

It is possible to couple a ICP-MS to a laser ablation device in order to spatially resolve isotopic and concentration variations. After using a 157 nm laser excimer for years, le lab has been recently equipped with a new 193 nm (Photon Machine Excite) laser.

TIMS

The lab is also equipped with a thermal ionisation mass spectrometer (TIMS) Triton Plus for high precision isotopic ratios.