Research Group Atomic and Mass Spectrometry

The Atomic and Mass Spectrometry research group at Ghent University (A&MS-UGent) is specialized in the development of methods for the determination, elemental speciation and isotopic analysis of (trace) metals and metalloids via ICP-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the application of these methods in interdisciplinary contexts.

In the context of the Blue Life Sciences, A&MS-UGent has, e.g., developed methods for high-precision isotopic analysis of mercury (Hg) using multi-collector ICP-MS (MC-ICP-MS). This approach was relied on to evaluate the introduction of Hg from a point source (a WWII submarine wreck) into a marine food chain [1] and to unravel the origin of Hg in marine biota [2]. These projects were carried out in cooperation with the Norwegian National Institute for Nutrition and Seafood Safety NIFES. The approach was also employed in cooperation with the University of Aberdeen for Hg isotopic analysis in various tissues originating from stranded whales in an attempt to obtain a more profound insight into their Hg metabolism [3].

A&MS-UGent is also specialized in quantitatively documenting the spatial distribution of (trace) elements in 2 and sometimes 3 dimensions over sample material by using laser ablation as a means of sample introduction into ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS). This approach has, e.g., been used to visualize the distribution of metals across the body compartments of a water flea [4]. LA-ICP-MS was also used to individually interrogate algae cells for their metal content [5].

A recent research line within A&MS-UGent is single-event ICP-MS, an approach for characterizing single entities, such as engineered nanoparticles or single cells. Also these methods show application potential in the context of Blue Life Sciences. Recently, this approach was shown promising for the detection, quantification and characterization of microplastics with a size down to 1 micrometer [6].

1. Assessment of Hg pollution released from a WWII submarine wreck (U-864) by Hg isotopic analysis of sediments and Cancer pagurus tissues via cold vapor generation – multi-collector ICP-mass spectrometry (CVG-MC-ICP-MS), A. Rua-Ibarz, E. Bolea-Fernandez, A. Maage, S. Frantzen, S. Valdersnes and F. Vanhaecke, Environmental Science & Technology, 50,10361–10369, 2016.
2. Tracing mercury pollution along the Norwegian coast via elemental, speciation, and isotopic analysis of liver and muscle tissue of deep-water marine fish (Brosme brosme) A. Rua-Ibarz, E. Bolea-Fernandez, A. Maage, S. Frantzen, M. Sanden and F. Vanhaecke, Environmental Science & Technology, 53, 1776-1785, 2019.
3. High-precision isotopic analysis sheds new light on mercury metabolism in long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas), E. Bolea-Fernandez, A. Rua-Ibarz, E.M. Krupp, J. Feldmann and F. Vanhaecke, Scientific Reports, 9, article number: 7262, 2019.
4. Quantitative determination and subcellular imaging of Cu in single cells via laser ablation-ICP-mass spectrometry using high-density microarray gelatin standards, S.J.M. Van Malderen, E. Vergucht, M. De Rijcke, C. Janssen, L. Vincze and F. Vanhaecke, Analytical Chemistry, 88, 5783-5789, 2016.
5. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the tissue-specific multi-elemental distribution within Ceriodaphnia dubia via multimodal registration using laser ablation ICP-mass spectrometry and X-ray spectroscopic techniques, S.J.M. Van Malderen, B. Laforce, T. Van Acker, C. Nys, M. De Rijcke, R. de Rycke, M. De Bruyne, M. Boone, K. De Schamphelaere, O. Borovinskaya, B. De Samber, L. Vincze and F. Vanhaecke, Analytical Chemistry, 89, 4161-4168, 2017.
6. Detection of microplastics using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) operated in single-event mode, E. Bolea-Fernandez, A. Rua-Ibarz, M. Velimirovic, K. Tirez and F. Vanhaecke, Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry,35, 455-460, 2020.