Performance characteristics of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with high mass resolution

A laboratory prototype is described of a new ICP-MS system with high mass resolution, based on a double focusing magnetic field analyser, which has been especially designed for application in elemental analysis. The performance characteristics of this instrument are summarized comparing operation in a low resolution mode (R = 300) and a high resolution mode (R = 3000) with reference to common quadrupole instruments with (nearly) unit resolution. Most of the typical spectral interferences can be resolved. Detection limits were achieved of one order of magnitude and more below those obtained with quadrupole instruments. Several operational features of the instrument are described.