Determination of lanthanides in rock samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using thorium as oxide and hydroxide correction standard

Determination of lanthanides by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) using modified mathematical correction method has been studied. Normally, the ICP-MS analysis of middle and heavier lanthanides becomes difficult by severe spectroscopic overlap of M+, MO+ or MOH+ ions from lighter lanthanides and Ba. A correction method based on a single element oxide yield measurement, is a simple approach to correct for the above spectroscopic overlaps. But the uncertainty in the oxide and hydroxide yields measurement of lanthanides and barium over a long period of time can lead to inaccurate results even under fixed plasma conditions. To correct this, thorium was adopted as an oxide and hydroxide correction standard. Using a ratio of lanthanide oxide yield to thorium oxide yield, the lanthanide correction factors (LCF) were established and incorporated in the mathematical correction scheme. The same factors were also established for hydroxide correction. The proposed modified correction scheme was applied to the determination of lanthanides by ICP-MS from the USGS Standard Rock samples AGV-1 and G-2. The results are in good agreement with the reported values. The method also proved to be useful in isotopic ratio measurement of lanthanides having severe isobaric overlaps.