• Energy Research

A method has been developed for the direct (no sample pretreatment and/or isolation of the target element from the sample matrix) Pb isotopic analysis of bioethanol via multi-collector ICP-mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS).

Potassium isotopic analysis is arousing increasing interest, not only in geochemistry, but also in biomedicine. However, real-life applications are still hindered by the lack of robustness of the methods used. In this work, a novel and robust method for high-precision K isotopic analysis of geological and biological samples was developed, based on the use of a multicollector ICP-mass spectrometer providing a mass resolving power of 15,000 (extra-high resolution mode, XHR). After evaluation of different measurement conditions, i.e., hot vs cold plasma conditions, standard-type vs jet-type sampling cone, and high resolution (HR) vs XHR, a combination of hot plasma conditions, use of the high-transmission jet-type sampling cone, and the XHR mode allowed for high-precision and interference-free K isotopic analysis. Potassium signal monitoring was performed in the ArH+ interference-free 0.006-0.007 amu wide peak shoulder using the XHR mode. The within-run, short-term external, and long-term external precisions for the δ41K value were 0.02‰ (2se, N = 50), 0.03‰ (2SD, N = 7), and 0.06‰ (2SD, N = 163), respectively. A two-stage chromatographic procedure was developed for the isolation of K from both geological and biological samples, and potential matrix effects affecting the K isotope ratio were systematically evaluated. The method was first applied to geological reference materials (RMs) for validation purposes, and the K isotope ratio results were in good agreement with those previously reported. Subsequently, a series of biological RMs, including serum, whole blood, cerebrospinal fluid, bovine muscle, and lobster hepatopancreas, were characterized for their K isotopic composition.