Shooting stars and blasting dinosaurs: boosting ICP-MS capabilities across various research domains.

Since 1986, the VUB has been a leading center of expertise
in mass spectrometry and carries out highly multidisciplinary
research in analytical and environmental
chemistry, cosmo- and geochemistry, bioarcheology,
geology, paleontology, oceanography, paleoclimate
reconstructions, ecology, human biomonitoring, material
sciences, and many other fields of research. The current
proposal advances, expands and reinforces the position of
AMGC and VUB partners at the forefront of their respective
fields by adding to the existing analytical platform a stateof-
the-art triple-quadrupole ICP-MS (ICP-QQQ) and two
sample introduction systems: excimer-based nanosecond
laser ablation (LA) and high-performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC).
The proposed infrastructure fills a major gap within the
array of in situ (microXRF, FTIR, XPS, etc.) and bulk (incl.
IRMS, MC-ICP-MS) techniques available at the VUB within
the Material Characterization core facility that is currently
being established. A highly versatile, high-throughput and
up-to-date platform will be installed and optimized, that
focuses on the quantitative analysis of ultralow metals and
metalloids in a wide range of material matrices, from tiny
mineral phases in meteorites over speleothems,
(micro)fossils, shells, and bones, to plant material and
aerosols. Through the addition of the ICP-QQQ and these
sample introduction systems, the ICP-MS lab of the VUB
innovates, reaches its full potential, and boosts its scientific
research.