A simple combined sample–standard bracketing and inter-element correction procedure for accurate mass bias correction and precise Zn and Cu isotope ratio measurements

Abstract

The modified sample–standard bracketing method (m-SSB) combines a sample–standard bracketing and an inter-element correction procedure to account for instrumental mass fractionation during multi-collector ICP-MS measurements. Precisions for Cu and Zn isotopes in plant and experimental granite leachate samples are in line with those obtained using other mass bias correction techniques. In addition, the inherent temporal drift of mass bias during the analytical session and the empirical linear relationship between dopant and analyte are used to apply independent correction schemes that rigorously check the accuracy of mass bias correction using m-SSB. Consequently, a very robust isotope data set is obtained. We further suggest the use of a matrix-element spike in inter-element doped standards to increase the mass bias variability. This improves the quality of the empirical relationship between dopant and analyte and enables cross-checking of the m-SSB method when instrumental mass bias is stable.