Single Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for Solving Geochemical and Environmental Problems

Examples of applications of single particle quadrupole and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) to the study of natural and incidental nanoparticles in various samples: volcanic ash and fumarole condensates, aerosol and settled urban dust, indoor dust, ice cores, river colloids, bottom sediments, soils and rock dumps are considered. It is shown that quadrupole and time-of-flight SP-ICP-MS should be considered complementary analytical methods, which, despite their limitations, are indispensable in nanogeochemistry and provide unique information on the elemental composition of nanoparticles, their numerical and mass concentrations, as well as mass and size distribution. The capabilities of the single- and multi-collector magnetic sector SP-ICP-MS are also mentioned. Particular attention is paid to sample preparation, which in some cases is critically important for obtaining correct results in the study of nanoparticles by SP-ICP-MS.