Comparison of laser ablation, electrothermal vaporization and solution nebulization for the determination of radionuclides in liquid samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The performance of solution nebulization (SN), electrothermal vaporization (ETV) and laser ablation (LA) of dried micro-droplets as sample introduction systems for ICP-MS are compared for the determination of several radionuclides in digested biological tissue, nearshore sea-water and river water. Samples were subjected to a Ca3(PO4)2 co-precipitation preconcentration prior to analysis. Each introduction system possesses unique advantages and disadvantages. ETV accommodates samples having higher dissolved solids content; consequently, for SN and LA, sample concentrates require additional dilution by 50- and 10-fold, respectively. ETV and LA achieved similar sensitivities and limits of detection, the latter ranging from 0.017 to 0.029 pg ml−1. Although SN provides the best precision (2% RSD versus 7 and 8% for ETV and LA, respectively), formation of uranium hydride can be reduced at least 100-fold using LA of dried micro-droplets of samples. The accuracy of the method was validated by determination of U and Th in NIST SRM 1566b Oyster Tissue, NRC CRM CASS-4 Nearshore Seawater and SLRS-4 Riverine Water and via spike recoveries for Pu.