Qualitative elemental distribution evaluation and elemental bioimaging through laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to tree rings and speleothems

• Grant number: 18/23478-7
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Cooperation agreement: National Science Foundation (NSF) and NSF’s Partnership for International Research and Education (PIRE)
• Principal researcher: Marco Aurelio Zezzi Arruda
• Grantee: Renata Stábile Amais
• Home Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/50085-3 - PIRE: climate research education in the Americas using tree-ring speleothem examples (PIRE-CREATE), AP.TEM

Abstract

The inorganic chemical analysis of tree rings and speleothems may enable to achieve evidences of extreme floods in the past, since such events contribute to the variation of the elemental composition of these materials. The main goal of this research is the development of analytical strategies for i) acquisition of qualitative data along of tree rings profiles and/or speleothems; ii) elemental bioimaging through the qualitative spatial elemental distribution in such samples employing laser ablation coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). This development is hampered by factors such as matrix and transport effects, and polyatomic interference. These aspects will be evaluated in the proposed study, with special emphasis on optimization of plasma operating conditions and ablation process, investigation of internal standardization (natural or synthetic) and use of collision and reaction cells to overcome isobaric interferences. The development of methods for the analysis of tree rings and speleothems will support the understanding of natural processes over time in the Peruaçu Canyon region and inside caves found along the river.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

AMAIS, RENATA S.; DONATI, GEORGE L.; ZEZZI ARRUDA, MARCO A. ICP-MS and trace element analysis as tools for better understanding medical conditions. TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, v. 133, DEC 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.

DONATI, GEORGE L.; AMAIS, RENATA S. Fundamentals and new approaches to calibration in atomic spectrometry. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, v. 34, n. 12, p. 2353-2369, DEC 1 2019. Web of Science Citations: 1.

WILLIAMS, CHARLES B.; AMAIS, RENATA S.; FONTOURA, BEATRIZ M.; JONES, BRADLEY T.; NOBREGA, JOAQUIM A.; DONATI, GEORGE L. Recent developments in microwave-induced plasma optical emission spectrometry and applications of a commercial Hammer-cavity instrument. TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, v. 116, p. 151-157, JUL 2019. Web of Science Citations: 2.