Published:Journal of Chromatographic Science,
ISSN 0021-9665 Volume
45, Number 10, November/December 2007, pp. 677-682
Application of ICP–MS as a Multi-Element
Detector for Sulfur and Metal Hydride Impurities in Hydrocarbon
Matrices
William M. Geiger[1], Shona
McSheehy[2], and Martin J. Nash[3]
[1]CONSCI, LTD., 1416 E. Southmore, Pasadena, TX 77502;
[2]Laboratoire de Chimie-Analytique, Bio-Inorganique et Environment, UMR 5034,
Universite de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, 2 av. Du Pres. Angot, 64053 Pau,
France;
[3]Thermo Electron Corporation, Ion Path, Road Three, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7
3BX
Maturation of inductively coupled plasma–mass
spectrometry (ICP–MS) in terms of size, reliability, and
cost has had a significant impact on its consideration as a viable
detector for gas chromatography. Its generally excellent sensitivity
for those elements it can measure has been a contributing factor.
A method for sulfur speciation in various hydrocarbon products
is investigated, as well as sulfur and metal hydride contaminants
in high purity hydrocarbon feed stocks. Detection limits for
sulfur species in hydrocarbon liquids and gases are approximately
5 and 10 ppb, respectively, as sulfur. Lower detection limits
on the order of 100 parts per trillion are achieved for arsine.
The use of collision cell technology (CCT) is exploited to remove
interferences. CCT has been described elsewhere (1) using helium
or helium–hydrogen mixtures for suppression of 16O16O+
interference with 32S. In this work, a novel approach is investigated
which uses oxygen to remove this interference by shifting it
in a comprehensive fashion. The advantage of operating the system
at full power with a tandem gas and liquid interface is also
discussed.
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