Triple-Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry with a High-Efficiency Sample Introduction System for Ultratrace Determination of 135Cs and 137Cs in Environmental Samples at Femtogram Levels

High yield fission products, (135)Cs and (137)Cs, have entered the environment as a result of anthropogenic nuclear activities. Analytical methods for ultratrace measurement of (135)Cs and (137)Cs are required for environmental geochemical and nuclear forensics studies. Here we report a highly sensitive method combining a desolvation sample introduction system (APEX-Q) with triple-quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (AEPX-ICPMS/MS) for the determination of (135)Cs and (135)Cs/(137)Cs isotope ratio at femtogram levels. Using this system, we introduced only selected ions into the collision/reaction cell to react with N2O, significantly reducing the isobaric interferences ((135)Ba(+) and (137)Ba(+)) and polyatomic interferences ((95,97)Mo(40)Ar(+), (119)Sn(16)O(+), and (121)Sb(16)O(+)). Compared to the instrument setup of ICPMS/MS, the APEX-ICPMS/MS enables a 10-fold sensitivity increase. In addition, an effective chemical separation scheme consisting of ammonium molybdophosphate (AMP) Cs-selective adsorption and two-stage ion-exchange chromatographic separation was developed to remove major matrix and interfering elements from environmental samples (10-40 g). This separation method showed high decontamination factors (10(4)-10(7)) for major matrix elements (Al, Ca, K, Mg, Na, and Si) and interfering elements (Ba, Mo, Sb, and Sn). The high sensitivity of APEX-ICPMS/MS and the effective removal sample matrix allowed reliable analysis of (135)Cs and (137)Cs with extremely low detection limits (0.002 pg mL(-1), corresponding to 0.006 Bq mL(-1) (137)Cs). The accuracy and applicability of the APEX-ICPMS/MS method was validated by analysis of seven standard reference materials (soils, sediment, and plants). For the first time, ultratrace determination of (135)Cs and (135)Cs/(137)Cs isotope ratio at global fallout source environmental samples was achieved with the ICPMS technique.