In the Gundlach-Graham lab, we develop instrumentation and methodologies for trace-element mass spectrometry. Current research foci are highlighted below.
- Online Microdroplet Calibration for Single-Particle ICPMS
- Multi-Element Quantification for Classification and Discovery of Anthropogenic Nanoparticles
- Data Treatment Strategies for Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
- Alternative Plasma Sources for Elemental Mass Spectrometry
Multi-Element Single-Particle ICP-TOFMS
We investigate methods for the quantification of mixtures of nanoparticles with single-particle – inductively coupled plasma – time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (sp-ICP-TOFMS). To quantify element mass and particle-number concentration (PNC) with have developed a calibration approach called online microdroplet calibration. This approach allows for the simultaneous matrix-matched quantification of element mass in nanoparticles and PNCs of diverse NP types.1,2 As more anthropogenic nanoparticles (NPs) are included in consumer products and manufacturing processes, the transport of these particles into non-target biological and environmental systems is unavoidable. Our research aims to quantify and classify3 anthropogenic nanoparticles in situ at environmentally relevant concentrations in order to support studies determining the presence and potential toxicological effects of nano-pollutants. This research is in part supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (http://p3.snf.ch/project-174061).
- Hendriks, L. et. al. J. Anal. At. Spec. 2019, 34, 716-728. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C8JA00397A)
- Mehrabi, K., et al. Env. Sci.: Nano, 2019, 6, 3349-3358. (http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1039/C9EN00620F)
- Praetorius, A., et. al, Env. Sci.: Nano. 2017, 4(2), 307-314. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C6EN00455E)