Spark source mass spectrometry applied to the determination of the isotopic composition of samples containing lithium, boron or iron

Abstract

Spark source mass spectrometry has been used to determine the isotopic composition of Li and B and the ⁵⁵Fe/⁵⁸Fe and ⁵⁹Fe/⁵⁸Fe isotope ratios in enriched lithium-7 hydroxide, boric acid and irradiated disodium pentacyanonitrosylferrate, respectively. The experimental procedure followed in each instance is explained. Appropriate standards were used to check accuracy. Some modifications were introduced into the standard data handling to improve the precision when necessary. A careful study of possible interferences was performed in each instance. When there were doublets present in the element investigated, the mass lines were identified through the calculation of exact masses.