Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry as an Independent Assessment for Mass Measurements of Milligram Quantities of Aqueous Solution

Published

January 1, 2023

Author(s)

Richard Essex, Jacqueline L. Mann, Denis E. Bergeron, Ryan P. Fitzgerald, Svetlana Nour, Gordon A. Shaw, R. Michael Verkouteren

Abstract

Isotope dilution mass spectrometry was used to independently assess the accuracy of mass measurement methods developed to quantitatively dispense milligram quantities of aqueous solution. Solutions of isotopically enriched 158Gd and enriched 155Gd were prepared with the molality (mol g-1) of the 155Gd solution being approximately 400 times more dilute than the 158Gd solution. Aliquots of 158Gd solution were flame sealed in glass ampoules and the 155Gd solution was quantitatively dispensed as a series of 1-gram sample aliquots and larger (45 g - 55 g) calibration aliquots. Calibration mixes of the solutions were prepared by mass and the Gd isotopic compositions of the 155Gd, 158Gd, and mixed Gd calibration solutions were measured using a multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. These data were used to calculate an elemental amount ratio for Gd in the solutions. Several 155Gd solution sample units were then spiked with small aliquots (0.25 µg to 6 µg) of 158Gd solution for which the masses were determined using glass capillary and inkjet dispensing methods. The measured Gd isotopic compositions of these mixed solutions, along with the previously calibrated Gd amount ratio and the known masses of the 155Gd aliquots, were used to calculate masses of dispensed samples. The isotope dilution-based mass measurements have relative expanded uncertainties (k = 2) < 0.1 %, which will allow solution masses measured by capillary and inkjet dispensing methods to be assessed for accuracy.

Citation

International Journal of Mass Spectrometry

Volume

483

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijms.2022.116969

Local Download

Keywords

Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry, mass, metrology, aqueous solution

Citation

Essex, R. , Mann, J. , Bergeron, D. , Fitzgerald, R. , Nour, S. , Shaw, G. and Verkouteren, R. (2023), Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry as an Independent Assessment for Mass Measurements of Milligram Quantities of Aqueous Solution, International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijms.2022.116969, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=935167 (Accessed April 28, 2024)