• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제35권12호
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• pp.3482-3488
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• 2014

Matrix-induced mass bias and its effect on the accuracy of isotope ratio measurements have been examined for a quadrupole-based inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (Q ICP-MS). Matrix-induced mass bias effect was directly proportional to % mass difference, and its magnitude varied for element and nebulizer flow rate. For a given element and conditions in a day, the effect was consistent. The isotope ratio of Cd106/Cd114 under $200{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$ U matrix deviated from the natural value significantly by 3.5%. When Cd 111 and Cd114 were used for the quantification of Cd with isotope dilution (ID) method, the average of differences between the calculated and measured concentrations was -0.034% for samples without matrix ($0.076{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$ to $0.21{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$ for the period of 6 months). However, the error was as large as 1.5% for samples with $200{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$ U. The error in ID caused by matrix could be larger when larger mass difference isotopes are used.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제52권7호
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• pp.1532-1536
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• 2020

For ensuring nuclear safeguards, we report the analytical signal-detection performance of thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) with continuous heating for the measurement of isotopic ratios in samples containing ultra-trace amounts of uranium. As methods for detecting uranium signals, peak-jumping mode using a single detector and static mode using multiple detectors were examined with U100 (10% ²³⁵U-enriched) uranium standard samples in the femtogram-to-picogram range. Uranium isotope ratios, n(²³⁵U)/n(²³⁸U), were measured down to levels of 1 fg and 3 fg in static and peak-jumping modes, respectively, while n(²³⁴U)/n(²³⁸U) and n(²³⁶U)/n(²³⁸U) values were measured down to levels of 100 fg in both modes. In addition, the dependency of the ²³⁸U signal intensity on sample quantity exhibited similar tendencies in both modes. The precisions of the isotope ratios obtained in the static mode over all sample ranges used in this study were overall slightly higher than those obtained in peak-jumping mode. These results indicate that isotope ratio measurements by TIMS with continuous heating are almost independent of the detection method, i.e., peak-jumping mode or static mode, which is characteristic of isotope-ratio measurements using the TIMS method with continuous heating. TIMS with continuous heating is advantageous as it exhibits the properties of multiple detectors within a single detector, and is expected to be used in various fields in addition to ensuring nuclear safeguards.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.58-61
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• 2012

A method based on flow injection-isotope dilution-cold vapor-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (FI-IDCV-ICP/MS) has been applied to determine trace level of mercury in fly ash. $^{200}Hg$ isotopic spike was added to 0.25 g of BCR176R fly ash and then decomposed by microwave digestion procedure with acid mixture A (8 mL $HNO_3$ + 2 mL HCl + 2 mL HF) and acid mixture B (8 mL $HNO_3$ + 2 mL $HClO_4$ + 2 mL HF) for applying IDMS. Mercury cold vapor was generated by using reductant solution of 0.2% (w/w) $NaBH_4$ and 0.05% (w/w) NaOH. The measurements of n($^{200}Hg$)/n($^{202}Hg$) isotope ratio was made using a quadrupole ICP/MS system. The accuracy in this method was verified by the analysis of certified reference material (CRM) of fly ash (BCR 176R). The indicative value of Hg in BCR 176R fly ash was $1.60{\pm}0.23$ mg/kg (k = 2). The determined values of Hg in BCR 176R fly ash by the method of FI-CV-ID-ICP/MS described in this paper were $1.60{\pm}0.24$ mg/kg (k = 3.18) and the analysis results were in well agreement with the indicative value within the range of uncertainty.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.54-57
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• 2012

Mass spectrometric analysis was carried out using multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) for the precise and accurate determination of the isotope ratios of ultratrace levels of uranium dissolved in 3% $HNO_3$. We used the certified reference material (CRM) 112-A at a trace level of 100 pg/mL for the uranium isotopic measurement. Multiple collectors were utilized for the simultaneous measurement of uranium isotopes to reduce the signal uncertainty due to variations in the ion beam intensity over time. Mass bias correction was applied to the measured U isotopes to improve the precision and accuracy. Furthermore, elemental standard solution with certified values of platinum, iridium, gold, and thallium dissolved in 3% $HNO_3$ were analyzed to investigate the formation rates of the polyatomic ions of $Ir^{40}$ $Ar^+$, $Pt^{40}$ $Ar^+$, $Tl^{40}$ $Ar^+$, $Au^{40}$ $Ar^+$ for the concentration range of 50-400 pg/mL. Those polyatomic ions have mass-to-charge ratios in the 230-245 m/z region that it would contribute to the increase of background intensity of uranium, thorium, plutonium, and americium isotopes. The effect of the polyatomic ion interference on uranium isotope measurement has been estimated.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.101-105
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• 2004

The laser ablation/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry is applied to the isotopic analysis of solid samples using a home-made instrument. The technique is convenient for solid sample analysis due to the onestep process of vaporization and ionization of the samples. The analyzed samples were lead, cadmium, molybdenum, and ytterbium. To optimize the analytical conditions of the technique, several parameters, such as laser energy, laser wavelength, size of the laser beam on the samples surface, and high voltages applied on the ion source electrodes were varied. Low energy of laser light was necessary to obtain the optimal mass resolution of spectra. The 532 nm light generated mass spectra with the higher signal-to-noise ratio compared with the 355 nm light. The best mass resolution obtained in the present study is ~1,500 for the ytterbium.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.59-64
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• 2017

In clinical diagnosis, it's well known that the abnormal level of uric acid (UA) in human body is implicated in diverse human diseases, for instance, chronic heart failure, gouty arthritis, diabetes, and so on. As a primary method, an isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) has been used to obtain the accurate quantity of UA in blood or serum and also develop the certificated reference material (CRM) so as to provide a SI-traceability to clinical laboratories. Due to the low solubility of UA in water, an ammonium hydroxide ($NH_4OH$) has been considered as a promising solvent to increase the solubility of UA that enables the preparation of both UA and its isotope standard solution for next IDMS-based absolute quantification. But, because of using this $NH_4OH$ solvent, it gives rise to the unwanted degradation of UA. In this study, we sought to optimize condition for the stability of UA in $NH_4OH$ solution by varying the mole ratios of UA to $NH_4OH$, followed by ID-LC-MRM analysis. In addition, we also inspected minutely the effect of the storage temperatures. Additionally, we also performed the quantitative analysis of UA in the KRISS serum certificated reference material (CRM, 111-01-02A) with diverse mixing ratios of UA to $NH_4OH$ and then compared those values to its certification value. Based on our experiments, adjusting the mole ratio of 1/2 ($UA/NH_4OH$) with the storage temperature of $-20^{\circ}C$ is an effective way to secure both the solubility and stability of UA in $NH_4OH$ solution for next IDMS-based quantification of UA in serum.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.195-200
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• 2017

Background: The natural ratios of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) stable isotopes can be varied in some specific living organisms owing to various isotopic fractionation processes in nature. Therefore, the analysis of C, N, and S stable isotope ratios in ginseng can provide a feasible method for determining ginseng authenticity depending on the cultivation land and type of fertilizer. Methods: C, N, and S stable isotope composition in 6-yr-old ginseng roots (Jagyeongjong variety) was measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Results: The type of cultivation land and organic fertilizers affected the C, N, and S stable isotope ratio in ginseng (p < 0.05). The ${\delta}^{15}N_{AIR}$ and ${\delta}^{34}S_{VCDT}$ values in ginseng roots more significantly discriminated the cultivation land and type of organic fertilizers in ginseng cultivation than the ${\delta}^{13}C_{VPDB}$ value. The combination of ${\delta}^{13}C_{VPDB}$, ${\delta}^{15}N_{AIR}$, or ${\delta}^{34}S_{VCDT}$ in ginseng, except the combination ${\delta}^{13}C_{VPDB}-^{34}S_{VCDT}$, showed a better discrimination depending on soil type or fertilizer type. Conclusion: This case study provides preliminary results about the variation of C, N, and S isotope composition in ginseng according to the cultivation soil type and organic fertilizer type. Hence, our findings are potentially applicable to evaluate ginseng authenticity depending on cultivation conditions.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.31-40
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• 2016

The analysis of nuclear materials and environmental samples is an important issue in nuclear safeguards and nuclear forensics. An analysis technique for safeguard samples has been developed for the detection of undeclared nuclear activities and verification of declared nuclear activities, while nuclear forensics has been developed to trace the origins and intended use of illicitly trafficked nuclear or radioactive materials. In these two analytical techniques, mass spectrometry has played an important role in determining the isotope ratio of various nuclides, contents of trace elements, and production dates. These two techniques typically use similar analytical instruments, but the analytical procedure and the interpretation of analytical results differ depending on the analytical purpose. The isotopic ratio of the samples is considered the most important result in an environmental sample analysis, while age dating and impurity analysis may also be important for nuclear forensics. In this review, important aspects of these techniques are compared and the role of mass spectrometry, along with recent progress in related technologies, are discussed.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제32권12호
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• pp.4327-4331
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• 2011

A new method in thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) was developed to correct peak tailing backgrounds in the isotope ratio measurements of uranium in ultra trace levels for higher accuracy. Two different uranium standard reference materials (U005 and U030) were used to construct databases of signal intensities at mass 234 u and mass 236 u, which correspond to the two uranium minor isotopes, and signal intensity of $^{238}U$. Correlations between peak tailing backgrounds and $^{238}U$ were obtained by least-squares regression on calculated backgrounds at mass 234 u and mass 236 u with respect to the signal intensity of $^{238}U$ followed by separation of the peak tails of the two major isotopes of uranium ($^{235}U$ and $^{238}U$), which enables us to obtain a master equation for peak tailing background correction on all kinds of samples. Verification of the correction method was carried out using U010 and IRMM-040a.

• 자원환경지질
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.495-508
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• 2013

물의 $^{18}O/^{16}O$와 $^2H/H$ 조성을 레이저를 이용하여 분석하는 기술은 기존의 IRMS를 이용한 분석방식에 비해 간편한 시료 전처리, 쉬운 장비 유지보수와 현장에서도 응용이 가능하다는 장점을 가지고 있다. 현재 사용되는 레이저 방식을 이용한 물의 안정동위원소 분석은 분석원리에 따라 OA-ICOS(Off-Axis Integrated Cavity Output Spectroscopy)를 이용한 방식과 WS-CRDS(Wavelength-Scanned Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy)를 이용한 방식으로 구분된다. WS-CRDS 방식은 기화된 물 시료를 질소 가스를 이용해 광학 공동(optical cavity)로 이동시킨 후 특정 파장에서의 동위원소체가 가지고 있는 흡수도와 레이저를 투과시켜 광학 공동을 투과하여 나오는 레이저 신호의 감쇠시간의 비측정을 통해 수 ppb에서 수십 ppt까지의 감도로 물의 안정동위원소 조성이 측정 가능하다. 이 연구에서는 WS-CRDS 방식의 분석원리와실제 물시료를 활용하여 기기의 안정성과 동위원소비 질량분석기(Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry; IRMS) 방법과의 교차분석을 포함한 기기 성능평가 결과를 소개하고 수리학 분야에서 다양한 주제에 대한 적용 가능성을 제시하였다.