Sector Field Mass Spectrometry for Elemental and Isotopic Analysis

This book was triggered by the success story of sector field mass spectrometry in elemental and isotopic analysis since the first presentation of the mass spectrum of Ne a hundred years ago. The outstanding and unique features of sector field mass spectrometry - high sensitivity, high mass resolution and simultaneous multiple ion detection – have paved the way for its widespread and successful application across different scientific disciplines. Written, compiled and edited by world renowned experts, this book is intended to provide deep insight into the topic along with fundamental knowledge about elemental and isotopic analysis. Aimed at scientists in the field of natural and life sciences, instrument manufacturers, practitioners and graduate students, it provides solid information about the methodological background and analytical capabilities of sector field mass spectrometry. A detailed description of peculiarities and an overview of the most relevant applications making use of specific techniques employing sector field mass analysers (ICP-MS, GDMS, TIMS, SIMS and IRMS) are given, including a presentation of the currently available commercial instruments. This approach guarantees that readers are thoroughly introduced to and familiarized with the fascinating inter- and transdisciplinary field of sector field mass spectrometry.

In the last 15 years more than 5000 research articles related to sector field instruments for elemental analysis have been published, demonstrating that this community is well-established and successful. This unique book focuses on the development of sector field mass spectrometers equipped with plasma (ICP or GD) sources, the instrumentation and applications in the field. Including a review of the peculiarities and performance of the instrumentation, the researcher will find this an invaluable current source of reference and discussion of the future trends. The book is written by worldwide renowned experts who have pioneered magnetic sector field spectrometry for inorganic analysis. Inter- and trans-disciplinary in nature, it will appeal to analytical chemists, geologists, environmentalists and instrument manufacturers.

Thomas Prohaska is professor for analytical chemistry at the BOKU (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Tulln, Austria). He studied chemistry at the Vienna University of Technology and received his PhD with summa cum laude in 1995. He became scientific researcher at the BOKU in the same year to build up a laboratory for elemental trace analysis. From 1998 to 2000 he was researcher at the EC joint research center IRMM in Geel, Belgium.In 2004, he received the START award for the setup of a new research laboratory (VIRIS).

Johanna Irrgeher is currently postdoctoral researcher in the field of analytical chemistry at the VIRIS Laboratory for analytical ecogeochemistry at BOKU. She holds a master degree in biotechnology and obtained her PhD granted by the Austrian Academy of Sciences in 2013 with honours for her work on stable strontium isotope ratio analysis by (LA)-MC ICP-MS. Her current research focuses on analytical method development for elemental and isotopic analysis in the field of analytical ecogeochemistry dealing with both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Andreas Zitek is currently a postdoctoral researcher at BOKU and a member of the VIRIS Laboratory for Analytical Ecogeochemistry in Tulln. His current research activities aim at the application of elemental and isotopic analyses to basic questions in the field of aquatic ecology (‘aquatic ecogeochemistry’), with a special focus on the chemical analysis of hard parts of freshwater fish.

Norbert Jakubowski is presently head of the division Inorganic Analysis at the BAM - Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Berlin, Germany. He received his PhD at the University of Stuttgart Hohenheim with summa cum laude in 1991 and in 2013 he received the "European Award for Plasma Spectrochemistry" for his contribution in elemental mass spectrometry. His research interests are related to Analytical Chemistry in general with special interest in development of instruments, methods and problem-orientated procedures based on the use of plasma sources for elemental mass spectrometry of solid and liquid samples. Recently he started a new research direction towards labelling of biomolecules with metals by use of chelating compounds for detection of biomarkers in clinical research.