Chemical characterization of size-segregated particulate matter (PM) by inductively coupled plasma - Tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS).

An analytical method was optimized for quantification of 67 elements including P, S and Si in size-segregated atmospheric particulate matter (PM) samples by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS). The analytical performance of ICP-MS/MS system using O2 as reaction gas and He as collision gas into the octopole collision/reaction cell (CRC) by mass shift and on mass using single MS modes were evaluated to enhance interference-free analysis. Satisfactory recoveries of elements in the range of 71.5% ± 3.4% (Ca) and 110.9% ± 13.1% (Si) were obtained by dissolving and analyzing certified reference material (CRM - NIST 1648a, urban dust). Elemental S in PM samples with high recovery (96.6% ± 3.9%) was reported for the first time by using an ICP-MS/MS technique. ICP-MS/MS is a very powerful technique and provides interference-free detection of elements in PM samples.