W.H.O.I. Plasma Mass Spectrometer Facility
Instrumentation

The two argon plasma mass spectrometers are manufactured by Thermo Electron Corporation in Bremen Germany.

The Element 2 is a rapid scanning single collector intstument used for elemental analysis of aqueous or solid samples when interfaced with a laser ablation sample introduction system.

The Neptune is a large format, multicollector ICP MS best suited for high precision isotope ratio measurements.

Solid Samples can be directly sampled and introduced into either the Neptune or the Element2 using the New Wave Research UP 213 laser ablation sampling device

Aqueous solutions are sampled by a variety of nebulizers and spray chambers from Elemental Scientific Inc.. Desolvation of aqueous solutions improves sensitivity and decreases oxide and hydride interferneces. We use the Aridus system from CETAC Technologies.