Accurate Measurement of Isotope Amount Ratios of Lead in Bronze with Multicollector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Isotope amount ratios of lead in a bronze sample have been successfully determined using multicollector inductivelycoupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). Matrix separation conditions were tested and optimized using ion exchangechromatography with anion-exchange resin, AG1-X8, and sequential elution of the 0.5 M HBr and 7 M HNO3 to separate leadfrom very high contents of copper and tin in bronze matrix. Mercury was also removed efficiently in the optimized separationcondition. The instrumental isotope fractionation of lead in the MC-ICP-MS measurement was corrected by the external standardsample bracketing method using an external standard, NIST SRM 981 lead common isotope ratio standard followed by correctionof procedure blank to obtain reliable isotope ratios of lead. The isotope ratios, 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, 208Pb/204Pb, and208Pb/206Pb, of lead were determined as 18.0802 ± 0.0114, 15.5799 ± 0.0099, 38.0853 ± 0.0241, and 2.1065 ± 0.0004, respectively,and the determined isotope ratios showed good agreement with the reference values of an international comparison for thesame sample within the stated uncertainties. KCI Citation Count: 0