Performance of Multi Quadrupole ICP-MS for Interference Removal in ICP-MS/MS

Helmut Ernstberger, PerkinElmer, Milano, Italy (helmut.ernstberger@perkinelmer.com)

Spectral interferences in ICP-MS can result in false positives and/or elevated background signals which impact detection limits. The need to control and eliminate such interferences has resulted in a number of instrumental solutions, amongst them ICP-DRC/MS and ICP-MS/MS. The latest instrumental implementation involves a multiple quadrupole system with 4 quadrupoles in a single ICP-MS/MS instrument. The scientific merit of a 4 quadrupole system and the roles played by the individual quadruples in controlling the ion beam and eliminating interferences are discussed. Performance data for difficult to remove interferences are presented, supported by application examples from clinical and geochemical fields.

---

Short Biography of Presenting Author

Trained as an analytical chemist, he started his career (PhD and post-doc) with environmental analysis (trace metals and nutrients), worked subsequently as Project Engineer for R&D and Environmental Technology in an engineering company in the mining sector (Dorfner Anzaplan), before taking a position as Lecturer, Associate Research Scientist, and Analytical Laboratory Manager in the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University, USA (2005-2014). He started at PerkinElmer in 2014 as Senior Scientist, focusing on inorganic speciation for applications development using hyphenated ICP-MS techniques. He subsequently moved into the position of Senior Technical Specialist – Inorganic and Food. In 2016 he transferred to the UK as Application Scientist – ICP-MS. Since 2017 he works out of the Milan, Italy office as Field Application Specialist Inorganic for EMEA Export, Israel, and Spain/PT.