Evidence of glacial melt water input in the Western Ross Sea (Antarctica) water masses

Ice shelves are believed to control the glacial stability and the Antarctic Ice Sheet balance, thus their melting is a critical issue. One of the recognized drivers of the ice shelf melting is the intrusion of the warm Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) onto the Antarctic continental shelves. In the Ross Sea: CDW is a primary source of heat, salt, iron (Fe) and nutrients and plays a major role on the shelf biogeochemical processes; CDW intrudes onto the shelf preferably in the western sector, where the local glaciers are potentially exposed to this warm intrusion; CDW, besides contributing directly to the Fe input, may also have an indirect, but relevant role on the Fe bulk by enhancing the ice shelves melting and iceberg calving. The CELEBeR (CDW Effects on glaciaL mElting and on Bulk of Fe in the Western Ross Sea) project aims to investigate the role of the CDW in supplying Fe to the Ross Sea biological system both directly, as one of the main Fe sources, and indirectly by inducing the Fe-rich glacial melt water inputs in the western Ross Sea. Preliminary data on evidence of glacial melt water input in selected areas are here presented

Determination of trace elements in undiluted wine samples using an automatized total sample consumption system coupled to ICP-MS

A novel method for the elemental analysis of undiluted wine samples was optimized and validated. The method was based on the use of a high-temperature torch integrated sample introduction system (hTISIS) coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The operating conditions (hTISIS temperature and liquid flow rate) were optimized in terms of sensitivity and matrix effects. Low liquid flow rates allowed to continuously introduce organic samples into the plasma source with minimum soot as well as salty deposits formation at the ICP-MS interface and/or plasma thermal degradation. A double pass Scott-type spray chamber thermostated at 2ºC was taken as the reference sample introduction system. The results indicated that the hTISIS operated at 125ºC and 30 µL min-1 as liquid flow rate improved the sensitivity and mitigated the extent of matrix effects compared to the conventional system. Once the optimum conditions were selected, the method was validated and applied to the determination of sixteen trace elements (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb and Pb) in ten real wine samples. The sample was merely aspirated to the nebulizer with no additional preparation. For the sake of comparison, the samples were microwave digested and analyzed using a conventional setup. Method detection limits achieved by the hTISIS were from 2 to 40 times lower than those found using the standard procedure and ranged from 0.002 to 6 µg kg-1. Furthermore, the accuracy of the quantification using the hTISIS was not significantly different as compared to that afforded by the conventional procedure and substantially improved in comparison with the direct analysis of wine using a Scott spray chamber. Sample throughput was close to 10 h-1 that was in clear contrast with 2 h-1, estimated when the digestion method was used. Finally, the suitability of the developed method for the routine analysis of wine samples was demonstrated by performing a 20-hours long analysis sequence. Good signal stability and accurate results were obtained for ten representative Italian and Spanish wines

Prospect on Rare Earth Elements and Metals Fingerprint for the Geographical Discrimination of Commercial Spanish Wines

This paper presents a novel tool for Spanish commercial wine discrimination according to their designation of origin (PDO). A total of 65 commercial wines from different Spanish designation of origin (Alicante, Bullas, Campo de Borja, Jumilla, Castilla la Mancha, Ribeiro, Ribera de Duero, Rioja, Rueda, Utiel-Requena, Valdepeñas and Valencia) were characterized. The rare earth elements (REEs) content was determined by a high-temperature torch integrated sample introduction system (hTISIS) coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The REE content was used to draw characteristic PDOs radar charts. Results indicated that the REEs fingerprint provides a good prospect to discriminate the different Spanish PDOs, except for Alicante, Castilla la Mancha, Jumilla, Utiel-Requena and Valdepeñas. Finally, for those PDOs that were not properly distinguished, a second fingerprint obtained from Ba, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb and V content was used for discrimination purposes.Funding acquisition: J.-L.T. Authors wish to thank the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities for the financial support (Project Ref. PGC2018-100711-B-I00)

Total introduction of microsamples in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry by high-temperature evaporation chamber with a sheathing gas stream

A systematic study on the high-temperature Torch Integrated Sample Introduction System (TISIS) for use in Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been performed. The investigation included the optimization of the relevant parameters (chamber temperature, sheathing gas flow rate, nebulizer gas flow rate, sample uptake rate), the evaluation of its performance characteristics (sensitivity, limits of detection, stability, memory effects, use with the dynamic reaction cell) and representative applications to environmental, biological and clinical samples. Under the optimal conditions (T = 150 °C; nebulizer gas flow rate of 0.7 L min−1 along with sheathing gas flow rate of 0.35 L min−1 and a sample uptake rate of 20 μL min−1), the sensitivity was from 2 to 8 times higher than that measured using a conventional micronebulizer/mini-spray chamber system, due to the enhanced analyte mass transport toward the plasma and the solvent introduction in the vapour form. In addition, for several elements, TISIS provided lower limits of detection than the conventional system, even when the latter worked at 5-fold higher sample uptake rate. Short-term and long-term precision was better than 5%. Spectroscopic interferences arising from common matrices were efficiently removed by the dynamic reaction cell technique. The application of TISIS/ICP-MS to representative certified reference samples (spinach leaves, marine plankton, bone tissue, human blood) proved the suitability of this system for the accurate analysis of limited-size samples

Improving the analytical performances of ICP-AES by using a high-temperature single-pass spray chamber andsegmented-injections micro-sample introduction for the analysis of environmental samples

none4F. Ardini; M. Grotti; R. Sanchez; J.L. TodolíArdini, Francisco; Grotti, Marco; R., Sanchez; J. L., Todol