Isotopic Analysis by Laser Ablation Solution Sampling MC-ICP-MSAn Example of Boron

Using boron as a test analyte, laser ablation (LA) solution sampling multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) is proposed and validated as a fast method for isotopic analysis in natural liquids and digested samples without any prior purification process. We demonstrated that the solution reference standard can be used as a bracketing standard for in situ δ¹¹B analysis in solids. Based on a sensitivity enhancement of 8- to 9-fold, all testing solutions were diluted in a 5% (v/v) NH₃·H₂O instead of classical 2% (v/v) HNO₃. With a discrete and minimal sample solvent loading by the LA sampling strategy, it produces nearly “dry” plasma conditions that tolerate the sample matrix remarkably. The memory effect, one of the most difficult challenges in boron analysis, was dramatically eliminated with only 15 s wash time; thus, each analysis took less than 100 s. No significant matrix effects were observed for varying 50–100% boron concentrations in the samples and varying 20–60% NH₃·H₂O matrix used for the dilution, as well as for samples doped with a 1/100 synthetic seawater matrix. The external precision of δ¹¹B measurements in NIST 951a was ± 0.30‰ (2SD). Good agreement with the values described in literature studies was achieved for δ¹¹B measurements in eight geological reference materials, with precisions between 0.4 and 0.7‰ (2SD), confirming the accuracy of the proposed method. The proposed method offers advantages of simple sample preparation, fast analysis, and little use of chemical reagents.