Dataset on correlation plots of expected and measured concentrations from ICP-MS for a range of elements in ICP-MS multi-element calibration standard

Inductively-coupled plasma mass
spectrometry (ICP-MS) is the workhorse approach for trace metal and metalloid
analysis in aqueous matrixes. Designed for detecting various metals and
metalloids at parts per billion (ppb) level, the approach has over a decade ago
been extended to the low parts per million (ppm) range; thereby, providing analytical
simplicity and extending the working range of concentrations for ICP-MS. Presented
here is a dataset that describes the correlation plots of expected and measured
concentrations from ICP-MS for a range of elements in ICP-MS multi-element
calibration standard. Calibration range for all elements was from 0 to 10 ppm,
with calibration standards prepared from serial dilution of original stock multi-element
calibration solution with 18.2 MΩ
ultrapure water as diluent. Instrument used was Agilent 7500a ICP-MS in hot
plasma mode (1250 W). Upon successful calibration of all elements in the multi-element
calibration standard, the calibration standards (0, 50 ppb, 100 ppb, 500 ppb,
1000 ppb, 5000 ppb, and 10000 ppb) were re-analyzed to yield measured
concentrations. These values were subsequently plotted in a scatter plot
against expected concentrations of the calibration standards to yield correlation
plots between expected and measured concentration for each element in the
calibration standards. The dataset comprises data for elements with more than
one isotope such as cadmium and lead. Results indicate good correlations
between expected and measured concentrations for most elements in the
calibration series, but, correlation was observed to be not high at the <1
ppm range for some elements such as lithium-7, calcium-43, iron-56, and iron-57.
Set of elements and isotopes calibrated in this series were: Lithium-7, Boron-11,
Magnesium-24, Aluminum-27, Calcium-43, Chromium-53, Manganese-55, Iron-56, Iron-57,
Cobalt-59, Nickel-60, Copper-63, Zinc-66, Zinc-69, Cadmium-106, Cadmium-108, Cadmium-111,
Barium-137, Lead-206, Lead-207, Lead-208, and Bismuth-209. Overall, the correlation
plots presented herein demonstrates the utility of modern ICP-MS in achieving
good and accurate quantification of concentrations for a range of metals and
metalloids of interest to biochemistry, and environmental sciences and
engineering. But, difficulty in detecting some isotopes and elements in the
sub-ppm range also suggests room for further improving the ionization of
particular elements in the parts per billion concentration level from aqueous
matrixes.