Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

ICP-MS is an analytical technique used for elemental determinations of metals and several non-metals at very low concentrations. An ICP-MS combines a high-temperature ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma) source with a mass spectrometer (MS). The ICP source converts the atoms of the elements in the sample to ions. Once converted, they are brought into the MS via the interface cones. The ions that enter the MS are separated by their mass-to-charge ratio and counted by the detector. The number of ions striking the detector is translated to an electrical signal that can be measured.