Development and Use of “ICP-MS TuneSim”: A Software App that Allows Students to Simulate Tuning an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer

Abstract

A new app, freely available for Windows computers, has been developed to simulate tuning of an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, on the basis of optimization data collected using a sector-field instrument. The app allows students to adjust parameters, including the torch position, gas flows, radio-frequency power, and guard-electrode state, while observing the signal for three “measured” variables in real time. The app has been used with a group of second-year undergraduate students to supplement theoretical material taught in an Atomic Spectrometry lecture course. The exercise familiarized students with key components of the instrument and demonstrated how multiple factors may need to be balanced when performing optimization.

Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry as a Powerful Tool for Spatially Resolved Analysis: An Experiment for Undergraduate Analytical Chemistry Laboratory

“…For example, in 1992, Imai showed the possibility of determining the distribution on a sample of stalactite where changes in the concentration of 25 elements (from Mg to U) were recorded . According to a large number of publications, LA-ICP-MS is becoming an essential tool connecting chemical, biological, and medical research. ,− There are educational exercises where a number of different problems are solved by ICP-MS such as the determination of ovalbumin in egg, and speciation of arsenic in tap water and apple juice . However, only one educational activity (for public demonstration) is engaged in LA-ICP-MS analysis and no laboratory exercises are dedicated specifically to students.…”

Development of an ICP-MS Instrument Simulator: Software for Teaching Elemental Analysis to Undergraduates

“…There are a few examples of ICP-MS experiments aimed at undergraduates. − However, opportunities for undergraduates to gain practical experience of ICP-MS are not widespread, owing to the high purchase and running cost of the instrumentation along with the large footprint of some types of ICP-MS and their associated services. In 2018, a simulation was developed to provide students with experience with tuning an ICP-MS instrument . ICP-MS TuneSim allowed students to adjust parameters and observe the impact on indium and uranium signals in real time, but it did not allow students to progress to collecting subsequent data sets.…”

“…In 2018, a simulation was developed to provide students with experience with tuning an ICP-MS instrument. 18 ICP-MS TuneSim allowed students to adjust parameters and observe the impact on indium and uranium signals in real time, but it did not allow students to progress to collecting subsequent data sets.…”

ICP-MS Analysis of Mercury in Fish: Exploration of Method Validation, Matrix Effect, and Kinetic Energy Discrimination

“…17 Additionally, previous publications in this journal investigated analysis of trace metals in sinus wash and apple juice, explored parameter optimization through simulation, and examined the effects of polyatomic interference. [18][19][20][21][22] Also, an undergraduate experiment analyzing mercury in fish samples using coldvapor atomic absorbance has been published 23 ; however, to date, mercury analysis of solid foodstuffs with ICP-MS in a class setting has not been published. Thus, in this educational paper, we pursued the following learning objectives while performing mercury ICP-MS analysis on fish samples:…”