Measurements of Rare Earth Element and Other Element Mass Fractions in Environmental Reference Materials (NIST SRM 1646a,NIST SRM 1400, IAEA‐395 and IAEA‐450) by INAA,ICP‐AES and ICP‐MS

INAA, ICP‐AES and ICP‐MS were used to elementally characterise four environmental reference materials – NIST SRM 1646a (Estuarine Sediment), NIST SRM 1400 (Bone Ash), IAEA‐395 (Urban Dust) and IAEA‐450 (Algae). An analytical scheme consisting of the three methods was first applied to NIST SRM 1646a to validate the methodology because it has been extensively analysed and has certified values for many elements. With repeated analyses of NIST SRM 1646a, the accuracy and measurement repeatability of the data obtained were evaluated based on two statistical calculations (zeta‐score and Horwitz ratio) and were observed to be good enough for the analytical scheme to be applied to similar sorts of environmental/geochemical samples. Applying the same approach to NIST SRM 1400, IAEA‐395 and IAEA‐450, enabled mass fractions of 29, 38 and 28 elements to be determined, respectively. Among these results, the data for rare earth elements are of particular interest, not only for IAEA‐450 but also for the other three reference samples. The data for Pr, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er and Tm in NIST SRM 1646a are newly reported in this study. By using small test portions (< 100 mg) for NIST SRM 1646a and IAEA‐395, and recommended minimum amounts for NIST SRM 1400 and IAEA‐450, sample homogeneity was evaluated.     

全自动石墨消解-电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定岩石样品中稀土元素

本文建立了以全自动石墨消解仪消解样品,“加酸-消解-赶酸-定容-摇匀”全程用软件控制,以Rh、Re为内标,电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定岩石中La、Ce、Pr、Nd、Sm、Eu、Gd、Tb、Dy、Ho、Er、Tm、Yb、Lu、Y 15种稀土元素含量的方法。通过对岩石国家一级标准物质GBW07103、GBW07104、GBW07105、GBW07108、GBW07109、GBW07110、GBW07112、GBW07122进行方法酸用量、方法精密度、准确度和检出限的测试研究。结果表明：按照消解程序消解的上述岩石国家标准物质,各元素测定值与标准值一致,相对标准偏差在0.98%～4.41%之间,方法精密度优于常用的电热板消解法,方法精密度、准确度和检出限满足地质矿产实验测试质量管理规范的要求,该方法用酸量较少,自动化程度高,可应用于批量样品的测试。     

Mass Fractions of Forty‐Six Major and Trace Elements,Including Rare Earth Elements,in Sediment and Soil Reference Materials Used in Environmental Studies

Development of new techniques, enabling simultaneous determination of large numbers of elements in environmental samples, can force analysts to use certified reference materials that do not contain all the elements of interest. In this paper, the mass fractions of forty‐six major and trace elements, including rare earth elements (REE), are presented in one soil (NCS DC 77302 also known as GBW 07410) and five sediment (Metranal‐1, IAEA 405, MESS‐3, NCS DC 73309 also known as GBW 07311 and NCS DC 75301 also known as GBW 07314) certified reference materials determined by high resolution inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry. The selected certified materials represent a spectrum of geological matrices often analysed in environmental studies. Measured elements include certified elements, elements listed with information values as well as new elements absent from certificates, including REEs and some other elements. REE + Y mass fractions in the river sediment reference material Metranal‐1 are reported for the first time. The results obtained are in agreement with available certified or information values.     

Isotope Dilution MC-ICP-MS Rare Earth Element Analysis of Geochemical Reference Materials NIST SRM 610, NIST SRM 612, NIST SRM 614, BHVO-2G, BHVO-2, BCR-2G, JB-2, WS-E, W-2, AGV-1 and AGV-2

We present data for the concentrations of eleven rare earth elements (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Er, Yb, Lu) in eleven international geochemical reference materials obtained by isotope dilution multi-collector inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). We have analysed both rock powders and synthetic silicate glasses, and the latter provide precise data to support the use of these as reference materials for in situ trace element determination techniques. Our data also provide precise measurements of the abundance of mono-isotopic Pr in both glasses and powders, which allows more accurate constraints on the anomalous redox-related behaviour of Ce during geochemical processes. All materials were analysed in replicate providing data that typically reproduce to better than one percent. Sm/Nd ratios in all these materials also reproduce to better than 0.2% and are accurate to < 0.2% and can thus be used as calibrants for Sm-Nd geochronology. Our analyses agree well with existing data on these reference materials. In particular, for NIST SRM 610, USGS BHVO-2, AGV-1 and AGV-2, our measured REE abundances are typically within < 2% (and mostly 1%) of REE concentrations previously determined by isotope dilution analysis and thermal ionisation mass spectrometry, consistent with the higher degree of precision and accuracy obtained from isotope dilution techniques. Close agreement of results between basaltic glass reference materials USGS BHVO-2G and BCR-2G and the BHVO-2 and BCR-2 powders from which they were created suggests that little fractionation, concentration or dilution of REE contents occurred during glass manufacture.     

等离子体质谱法分析原油中超痕量稀土元素的研究

报道了用等离子体质谱仪测定原油中超痕量稀土元素的研究工作。试验了不同地区原油样品前处理的各种方法,确定以浓Ｈ２ＳＯ４为炭化剂,克服了原油样品炭化过程中试样膨胀外溢和跳溅诸问题。考察了共存元素的干扰情况,采用Ｒｅ内标补偿测定信号的影响。各稀土元素的检出限在０．９～１６．１ｎｇ／Ｌ,标准加入回收率为９９．８％～１０７．７％,方法精密度好,ＲＳＤ（ｎ＝１０）为４．３６％～１６．５３％。该方法已成功地用于不同地区原油样品的测定。     

感耦等离子体质谱法测定商代原始瓷中的稀土

以混合酸溶样电感耦合等离子体质普法测定了商代古陶瓷中稀土元素,采用Ｉｎ内标补偿测定信号所受的影响,同时讨论了干扰因素及其校正方法。方法经国家一级标准物质分析验证,其分析结果与标准植吻合;经１０次重复测定同一样品,方法的精密度ＲＳＤ在１．６％～７．３％。该方法已用于不同地区的商瓷样品中稀土的测定,并对古瓷的地球化学特征作了探讨。     

A Common Reference Material for Cadmium Isotope Studies – NIST SRM 3108

Research into natural mass‐dependent stable isotope fractionation of cadmium has rapidly expanded in the past few years. Methodologies are diverse with MC‐ICP‐MS favoured by all but one laboratory, which uses thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS). To quantify the isotope fractionation and correct for instrumental mass bias, double‐spike techniques, sample‐calibrator bracketing or element doping has been used. However, easy comparison between data sets has been hampered by the multitude of in‐house Cd solutions used as zero‐delta reference in different laboratories. The lack of a suitable isotopic reference material for Cd is detrimental for progress in the long term. We have conducted a comprehensive round‐robin assay of NIST SRM 3108 and the Cd isotope offsets to commonly used in‐house reference materials. Here, we advocate NIST SRM 3108 both as an isotope standard and the isotopic reference point for Cd and encourage its use as ‘zero‐delta’ in future studies. The purity of NIST SRM 3108 was evaluated regarding isobaric and polyatomic molecular interferences, and the levels of Zn, Pd and Sn found were not significant. The isotope ratio ¹¹⁴Cd/¹¹⁰Cd for NIST SRM 3108 lies within ～ 10 ppm Da^?1 of best estimates for the Bulk Silicate Earth and is validated for all measurement technologies currently in use.     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定地质样品中稀土元素

采用酸溶一敞开溶矿技术,等离子体质谱法测定地质样品中的稀土元素。该方法选用高氯酸和硫酸,试验发现,硫酸的溶矿效果明显优于高氯酸,且硫酸的存在有利于消除Ba对稀土元素的质谱影响。用该方法对地质样品三类国家一级标样（GBW07401、GBW07103、GBW07309）：进行验证,准确率达95％～105％,结果令人满意。     

Zinc Isotopic Compositions of NIST SRM 683 and Whole‐Rock Reference Materials

In this study the homogeneity of the zinc isotopic composition in the NIST SRM 683 reference material was examined by measuring the Zn isotopic signature in microdrilled sample powders from two metal nuggets. Zinc was purified using AG MP‐1M resin and then measured by MC‐ICP‐MS. Instrumental mass bias was corrected using the “sample‐standard bracketing” method and empirical external normalisation with Cu doping. After evaluating the potential effects of varying acid mass fractions and different matrices, high‐precision Zn isotope data were obtained with an intermediate measurement precision better than ± 0.05‰ (δ⁶⁶Zn, 2s) over a period of 5 months. The δ⁶⁶Zn_JMC‐Lyon mean values of eighty‐four and fourteen drilled powders from two nuggets were 0.11 ± 0.02‰ and 0.12 ± 0.02‰, respectively, indicating that NIST SRM 683 is a good isotopic reference material with homogeneous Zn isotopes. The Zn isotopic compositions of seventeen rock reference materials were also determined, and their δ⁶⁶Zn values were in agreement with most previously published data within 2s. The δ⁶⁶Zn values of most of the rock reference materials analysed were in the range 0.22–0.36‰, except for GSP‐2 (1.07 ± 0.06‰, n = 12), NOD‐A‐1 (0.96 ± 0.03‰, n = 6) and NOD‐P‐1 (0.78 ± 0.03‰, n = 6). These comprehensive data should serve as reference values for quality assurance and interlaboratory calibration exercises.     

基体分离-电感耦合等离子体质谱测定重晶石中超痕量稀土元素

采用Na2O2、Na2CO3 碱熔重晶石,水提取,氨水沉淀稀土元素,经氢型阳离子交换树脂交换分离富集稀土元素,应用电感耦合等离子体质谱对重晶石中超痕量稀土元素进行测定,用铑作内标元素补偿基体效应和灵敏度漂移。重晶石中钡的分离效率达到99. 999%,检出限为0. 11~6. 9ng/g,相对标准偏差(RSD,n=9)≤13. 7%。     

New ID-TIMS, ICP-MS and SIMS Data on the Trace Element Composition and Homogeneity of NIST Certified Reference Material SRM 610-611

We present new concentration data for twenty four lithophile trace elements in NIST certified reference material glasses SRM 610-SRM 611 in support of their use in microanalytical techniques. The data were obtained by solution ICP-MS and isotope dilution TIMS analysis of two different sample wafers. An overall assessment of these new results, also taking into account ion probe studies that have been published in the literature, shows that these wafers can be considered to be homogeneous. Therefore, individually analysed wafers are believed to be representative of the entire batch of the SRM 610-611 glasses. Possible exceptions are the alkali metals (and a few volatile or non-lithophile trace elements). The analysed concentrations range between 370 μg g⁻¹ (Cs) and 500 μg g⁻¹ (Sr) and agree well with published values. On the basis of our new data and data recently published in the literature we propose "preferred average" values for the elements studied. These values are, within a few percent, identical to those proposed by other workers.     

Determination of Trace Element Mass Fractions in Ultramafic Rocks by HR‐ICP‐MS: A Combined Approach Using a Direct Digestion/Dilution Method and Preconcentration by Coprecipitation

A procedure is described for the determination of thirty‐seven minor and trace elements (LILE, REE, HFSE, U, Th, Pb, transition elements and Ga) in ultramafic rocks. After Tm addition and acid sample digestion, compositions were determined both following a direct digestion/dilution method (without element separation) and after a preconcentration procedure using a double coprecipitation process. Four ultramafic reference materials were investigated to test and validate our procedure (UB‐N, MGL‐GAS [GeoPT12], JP‐1 and DTS‐2B). Results obtained following the preconcentration procedure are in good agreement with previously published work on REE, HFSE, U, Th, Pb and some of the transition elements (Sc, Ti, V). This procedure has two major advantages: (a) it avoids any matrix effect resulting from the high Mg content of peridotite, and (b) it allows the preconcentration of a larger trace element set than with previous methods. Other elements (LILE, other transition elements Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, as well as Ga) were not fully coprecipitated with the preconcentration method and could only be accurately determined through the direct digestion/dilution method.     

Rare Earth and Other Trace Element Content of NRCC HISS-1 Sandy Marine Sediment Reference Material

The National Research Council (NRC), Ottawa, Canada sandy marine sediment reference material HISS-1 was characterised for thirty-seven trace elements by neutron activation optimised irradiation, cooling and counting protocols using the low power Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR) as a neutron source. This INAA methodology quantified twenty additional elements including ten rare earth (Ce, Dy, Eu, Ho, La, Lu, Nd, Sm, Tb and Yb) and ten other elements (Ba, Br, Cs, Ga, Hf, Rb, Sc, Ta, Th and Zr) missing in the final NRCC certification. A large number of values produced by different irradiation schemes together with the use of certified reference materials in the quantification step that showed good precision, provided confidence in the results. The reliability of the REE data was checked by plotting chondrite-normalised graphs.     

Rare Earth Element Determination in Olivine by Laser Ablation‐Quadrupole‐ICP‐MS: An Analytical Strategy and Applications

Olivine offers huge, largely untapped, potential for improving our understanding of magmatic and metasomatic processes. In particular, a wealth of information is contained in rare earth element (REE) mass fractions, which are well studied in other minerals. However, REE data for olivine are scarce, reflecting the difficulty associated with determining mass fractions in the low ng g^?1 range and with controlling the effects of LREE contamination. We report an analytical procedure for measuring REEs in olivine using laser ablation quadrupole‐ICP‐MS that achieved limits of determination (LOD) at sub‐ng g^?1 levels and biases of ~ 5–10%. Empirical partition coefficients (D values) calculated using the new olivine compositions agree with experimental values, indicating that the measured REEs are structurally bound in the olivine crystal lattice, rather than residing in micro‐inclusions. We conducted an initial survey of REE contents of olivine from mantle, metamorphic, magmatic and meteorite samples. REE mass fractions vary from 0.1 to double‐digit ng g^?1 levels. Heavy REEs vary from low mass fractions in meteoritic samples, through variably enriched peridotitic olivine to high mass fractions in magmatic olivines, with fayalitic olivines showing the highest levels. The variable enrichment in HREEs demonstrates that olivine REE patterns have petrological utility.     

A New Interlaboratory Characterisation of Silicon,Rare Earth Elements and Twenty‐Two Other Trace Element Concentrations in the Natural River Water Certified Reference Material SLRS‐6 (NRC‐CNRC)

The natural river water reference material SLRS‐6 (NRC‐CNRC) is the newest batch of a quality control material routinely used in many international environmental laboratories. This work presents a nine‐laboratory compilation of measurements of major and trace element concentrations and their related uncertainties, unavailable in the NRC‐CNRC certificate (B, Cs, Li, Ga, Ge, Hf, Nb, P, Rb, Rh, Re, S, Sc, Se, Si, Sn, Th, Ti, Tl, W, Y, Y, Zr and REEs). Measurements were mostly made using inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry. The results are compared with equivalent data for the last batch of the material, SLRS‐5, measured simultaneously with SLRS‐6 in this study. In general, very low concentrations, close to the quantification limits, were found in the new batch. The Sr isotopic ratio is also reported.     

Determination of Trace Bismuth in Environmental Waters by ICP‐MS with Cobalt Ion‐Assisted Photochemical Vapour Generation

With increasing use of bismuth in industry, a better understanding of its environmental behaviour is required, including an improved knowledge of its background concentration range in (non‐saline) freshwaters. However, the poor analytical sensitivity of previous methods may lead to inaccurate measurement results for Bi³⁺ in environmental samples. In this work, cobalt ion‐assisted photochemical vapour generation (PVG) was developed for the detection of trace Bi with inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) measurement. The volatile species of Bi was found to be (CH₃)₃Bi generated under UV irradiation in the presence of formic acid, acetic acid and Co²⁺. The major parameters potentially influencing the detection of Bi were investigated. Under optimised conditions, the limit of detection (3s, n = 11) of the proposed method was 0.3 ng l^?1. The analytical sensitivity was enhanced about 70‐fold for Bi³⁺ compared with that using classic pneumatic nebulisation of ICP‐MS. Furthermore, the proposed method showed better analytical sensitivity and anti‐interference ability towards co‐existing ions compared with ferric ion‐assisted PVG systems. The accuracy of the proposed method was evaluated by analysis of environmental water samples and certified reference materials with satisfactory results.     

微波密闭消解-等离子体质谱法测定岩石样品中的稀土元素

建立了有微波密封ＨＦ＋ＨＮＯ３消解样品,等离子体质谱测定岩石样品中１５个稀土元素的分方法。用该方法对国内外岩石标准品进行测定,结果表明稀土元素的测定值与标准值之间的相对偏差小于５％,检出限为（０．１－０．９）＊１０＾－９,多次测定结果的相对标准偏差在１．３％－５．２％。各类实际岩石样品中稀土元素的分析结果均与地质规律相符,进一步证明了方法的可靠性。     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定生物样品中超痕量稀土时氧化物干扰的研究

试验了１００～７００ｕｇ／ＬＢａ的氧化物对Ｅｕ产生的干扰,干扰程度与Ｂａ量呈线性,其相关系数ｒ在０．９９８６～０．９９９５。用模拟样品溶液对不同含量的Ｂa对Ｅu的干扰采取了简单的数学方法校正,校正后的结果在误差允许范围之内。．对小麦和人发标准物质中Ｂa氧化物对Ｅu的干扰及校正效果进行了比较。结果表明,在所使用的仪器条件下,这两个标准物质中的Ｂa对Ｅu的干扰必须校正。研究了ｕｇ／Ｌ水平的轻稀土氧化物对重稀     

大洋多金属结核中稀土元素的测定及其地球化学特征

大洋多金属结核经碱熔分解，氢氧化物沉淀和阳离子交换树脂富集稀土元素后，主元素（也是富线光谱元素）Ｍｎ和Ｆｅ的残留量（ｗＢ）仅０１％左右，不干扰ＩＣＰ＿ＡＥＳ法测定稀土元素。方法的检出限为１μｇ／Ｌ（Ｌｕ）～７５μｇ／Ｌ（Ｎｄ），ＲＳＤ（ｎ＝１１）小于５％。采用此法测定了国家一级多金属结核标准物质中１５个稀土元素，结果与标准值相符；同时为东太平洋多金属结核待定值标准物质提供了１５个稀土元素数据；并对其地球化学特征做了初步探讨     

Refinement of Phosphorus Determination in Quartz by LA‐ICP‐MS through Defining New Reference Material Values

The aim of this study was to improve the quality of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) determination of phosphorus in crystalline quartz. Over the last decade, the Geological Survey of Norway has routinely performed trace element determinations on quartz from both operating and potential quartz deposits by LA‐ICP‐MS. The determined phosphorus concentrations were, with but few exceptions, consistently within the range of 10 to 30 μg g^?1, results that seemed to be both too high and too consistent. The multi‐material calibration curve obtained from a suite of reference materials (NIST SRM 610, 612, 614, 1830, BAM No. 1 amorphous SiO₂ glass) did not define a precise regression line. Published phosphorus concentrations for the reference materials are poorly constrained and the observed dispersions along the multi‐material calibration curve suggest that some of the reference values may be inaccurate. Furthermore, the calibration curve did not pass through the origin of the [(cps ³¹P/cps ³⁰Si) · cone. Si] vs. P concentration diagram; thus, in addition to the uncertainties of the literature values of phosphorus, it is difficult to define the calibration curve. Three reference materials (NIST SRM 614, 1830, synthetic quartz KORTH) were sent for phosphorus accelerator implantation, providing an independent and accurate (± 3%) approach for determining phosphorus concentrations in crystalline quartz. The intrinsic phosphorus concentrations of the three implanted samples plus those for NIST SRM 610 and 612 were determined by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), yielding new phosphorus values for NIST SRM 610, 612, 614 and 1830. Using these new values resulted in a better defined LA‐ICP‐MS calibration curve. However, the source of the ICP‐MS related background could not be defined, such that it must still be empirically corrected for.