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Engineered to deliver a level of stability, flexibility and performance never before seen in an ICP-MS instrument, the NexION™ 350 represents the first truly significant and revolutionary industry advancement in recent memory. For the first time ever, a single ICP-MS instrument offers both the simplicity and convenience of a collision cell and the exceptional detection limits of a true reaction cell. With this patented Universal Cell Technology™ (UCT), analysts can now choose the most appropriate technique for a specific sample or application. No restrictions on which gases you can use. No limits on your mass range. No compromises on how you choose to work. And no hassles switching from one mode to another. Just the promise of superior accuracy and detection limits, faster analysis times, and an easier, more customizable operator experience than with any other instrument on the market. Signal responses are kept stable hour after hour by a unique Triple Cone Interface and Quadrupole Ion Deflector. Designed to remove an unprecedented level of un-ionized material (and preventing it from entering the Universal Cell), this innovative ion path keeps the instrument clean, minimizing drift and completely eliminating the need for cell cleanings.
Features

The NexION 350X configuration includes a single-channel Universal Cell. The system is best suited for general purpose applications such as environmental sample monitoring. NexION 350X can use a simple non-reactive gas in Collision mode or a reactive gas in Reaction mode.
•    Simultaneous dual mode (analog/digital detector).
•    Large, accessible sample introduction system
•    Low liquid uptake nebulizer
•    Free-running RF plasma generator
•    Automated X, Y, Z torch positioning
•    Patented PlasmaLok® technology
•    Fastest scanning quadrupole in the industry
•    Universal Cell Technology
•    Quadrupole Ion Deflector
•    Triple Cone Interface
•    Plasma View window
•    Four-stage vacuum system
•    Benchtop design

Specification

Mass range: 1-285 amu

Detection limits:

Element

ng/L (ppt)

9Be

< 1

24Mg

< 1

115In

< 0.5

238U

< 0.5

Sensitivity:

Element

M cps/mg/L

9Be

> 3

24Mg

> 20

115In

> 50

238U

> 40

Oxide and doubly-charged species:

CeO+/Ce+   < 0.025

Ce++/Ce+   < 0.03

Background signal: Mass 220  < 1 cps

Short-term precision: < 3% RSD

Long-term stability: < 4% RSD over 4 hours

Isotope-ratio precision: < 0.08% RSD

Mass calibration stability: < 0.05 amu over 8 hours of continuous operation

Quadrupole peak hop (slew) speed: 1.6M amu/sec

Quadrupole scan speed: 5000 amu/sec

Detector linear range: The SimulScan™ detection system operates from < 0.1 cps to > 109 cps.

RF generator: 40MHz, 3rd generation free-running design with PlasmaLok, adjustable from 500 to 1600 watts, in 1 watt increments. True Power Control maintains the plasma power at the set point, even when changing sample matrices. RF load coil is cooled by argon for electrical safety.

Torch/torch mount: Demountable torch design. Easily removal quick change torch mount cassette for maximum performance in different matrices. No tools are required for sample-introduction cassette removal.

Torch position: Fully computer controlled X, Y, Z torch positioning optimize for maximum ion transmission. Torch positioning system in all three axes (horizontal, vertical, sampling depth) is +/- 6 mm with 0.05 mm reproducibility.

Sample introduction system:

The standard 2-mm i.d. quartz injector is held by a specially designed pass-through injector-support assembly to minimize contact with materials that could cause sample contamination – for determinations made at the parts-per-trillion level. The glass-cyclonic spray chamber optimize sample-washout characteristics. The quartz-concentric nebulizer provides the ultimate in sensitivity and performance for ultratrace-level determinations.

Peristaltic pump:

Fully computer controlled, high-precision pump, variable speed from 0-100 rpm, integrated three-channel and 10 rollers.

Plasma view window:

Full color plasma view window allows the visual inspection of the cones, torch and load coil without opening the instruments. Enables optimization of plasma sampling depth and simplifies analysis of organics and complex matrices.

PlasmaLok interface:

PlasmaLok eliminates damage to the interface cones from uncontrolled arcing of the plasma, which leads to sample deposition on the cones and high background signal rates. PlasmaLok minimizes cone clogging and guarantees that excellent signal precision and longterm stability are achieved. The fact that there is less buildup of deposits on the cones, less cleaning and routine maintenance are required.

PlasmaLok stabilizes ion-energy distribution, thus maintaining excellent spectral resolution and simplifying ion-optic tuning. This is achieved even when the sample matrix dramatically changes, such as going from a wet-sample aerosol (conventional nebulization) to a dry sample aerosol (laser sampling) or from aqueous solutions to organics.

Triple Cone Interface:

Sampler cone : 1.1 mm diameter orifice, nickel.

Skimmer cone : 0.9 mm large diameter orifice, nickel. It is to maximize signal stability and to minimize clogging during extended runs of samples containing high dissolved solids.

3rd hyper skimmer cone : 1.0 mm large diameter orifice to produce tightly focused ion beam, filter complex matrix, un-ionized material and neutrals to reduce maintenance.

Gate valve: An isolation vacuum automated gate valve position after the 3rd hyper skimmer cone to isolate the high vacuum region in the event of power, water, argon or interface vacuum failure. The gate valve allows triple cone to be removed for cleaning without venting the vacuum system.

Quadrupole ion deflector: Turning analyte ion beam through 90 degrees, focusing a specified ions mass into Universal Cell System. It is supplied with focusing voltage that is automatically controlled by the instrument software. During each scan, the optimum voltage for each mass is dynamically applied to maximize analyte ions transmission to achieve high sensitivity, minimize other interfering ions transmission to achieve low backgrounds. Filtering feature discarding all photons, matrix and neutral species to wast`e via vacuum system  to provide un-surplus stability of the instrument.

Maintenance free, the path of quadrupole ion deflector is aligned tightly defined ion beam leaving the hyper skimmer of Triple Cone Interface. This ensures analyte ions and neutrals species never touch any component’s surfaces of ion deflector, keeping it clean for superior stability and eliminating cleaning requirements.

Universal Cell Technology:

Universal Cell Technology (UCT) allows the instrument to be run in three different modes within same method depending on the level of interference removal and detection limits required.

Standard mode for routine application, Cell gas is turned off so there is no loss in analyte sensitivity. Interference removal technique is through correction equations.

Collision mode for removal of unknown interferences, non-reactive gas such as helium is introduced into the cell to collide with the interfering ions with larger diameters, reducing their kinetic energy. Collision mode removes many interferences to deliver better detection limits than Standard mode for some elements. Interference removal technique is through Kinetic Energy Discrimination (KED).

Reaction (DRC) Mode for application demanding best performance and unprecedented level of interference removal. Highly reactive gas such as ammonia is introduced into the cell to create predictable chemical reactions. Any side reactions and resulting new interferences are instantly removed by a scanning quadrupole. Interference removal technique is through Dynamic Reaction Cell (DRC) with scanning quadrupole.

Quadrupole mass spectrometer:

The quadrupole is driven by a high-frequency 2.5-MHz power supply carefully designed to produce a perfect hyperbolic field for optimum resolving power and ion-transmission efficiency.

State-of-the-art binary gold-metallized ceramic rods, combined with ceramic mounting collars, ensure that the coefficient of thermal expansion is completely matched, guaranteeing rigid structural integrity along the entire length of the rod to achieve exceptional mass
calibration stability.

Dimensions:  125 cm x 77 cm x 76 cm (WxHxD), 181 kg

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