LA-ICP-MS of rare earth elements concentrated in cation-exchange resin particles for origin attribution of uranium ore concentrate

Asai, Shiho; Limbeck, A.*

A new analytical method for chondrite-normalized Rare earth elements (REE) plot has been developed in this study. Cation-exchange resin particles were used as a substrate to retain REE for laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). In LA analysis, formation of oxide and hydroxide of the light REE and Ba which causes spectral interferences in the heavy REE measurement was effectively attenuated, compared to conventional solution nebulization ICP-MS. To evaluate the applicability of the proposed method, the REE-adsorbed particles prepared by immersing them in a U-bearing solution were measured with LA-ICP-MS. Additionally, each concentration of REE in the U standard solution was determined with solution nebulization ICP-MS. The chondrite-normalized plot obtained through LA-ICP-MS analysis exhibited close agreement with that obtained through the solution nebulization ICP-MS of the REE-separated solution within the uncertainties.