Method to Screen Urine Samples for Vanadium by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry With Cryogenic Desolvation

Abstract

The determination of vanadium by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is complicated by ClO⁺ ions from chlorine matrices. Cryogenic desolvation reduces the amount of chloride reaching the plasma by condensing it as hydrogen chloride and reduces the amount of oxide formation by removing water vapor. Urine samples are screened for vanadium at the 12 ppb level using scandium as an internal standard. The V⁺ and Sc⁺ signals are affected by the matrix in the same way, so the V⁺/Sc⁺ signal ratio corrects for signal suppression by the matrix, as well as drift. Cryogenic desolvation also removes ArCl⁺, which should facilitate measurement of arsenic and selenium.