Reducing the effects of spectral interferences in inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry

This thesis reports studies aimed at reducing the effects of spectral interferences in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Two approaches are described and evaluated: the use of chemometric deconvolution of the spectra and the use of a collision/reaction cell for reactive transformation of interfering or analyte species. Bayesian analysis, in particular the Massive Inference (MI) algorithm was used for the deconvolution of ICP-MS spectra, covering the mass range from 46 to 88 Daltons, derived from multielement standards and biological reference materials. [Continues.]