Characterization of Synthesized Iron Nanoparticles in Hydrocarbon Matrices by Single Particle (sp) ICP-MS

Iron-containing compounds can be problematic during the refinery of petrochemicals or the manufacture of semiconductor devices.

These Iron compounds, including particles, can lead to corrosion of refinery equipment, adversely affecting the petroleum value chain. In the semiconductor industry, Fe Nanoparticles (NPs) can lead to cone defects on the surface of wafers, which cause shorting of electrical signals. Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) is increasingly used to study NPs. Currently, most studies have focused on NPs in aqueous sample matrices, with few studies on nonaqueous matrices. One of the issues for this is the lack of hydrocarbon matrices, and solvent-compatible reference nanomaterials (RMs) to validate new methods. Two gold (Au) polystyrene-coated NP RMs in toluene and silica-shelled iron oxide (Fe3O4) alkylsilane-modified NPs in o-xylene were synthesized. spICP-MS and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were integral to developing and characterizing the standard materials.

In this talk, we will share the spICP-MS method on the Agilent 7900 ICP-MS used to characterize the synthesized Au and Fe NP RMs. NIST crude oil standard reference material (SRM) and a NIST residual fuel oil SRM were also measured for the natural Fe NP content and spiked Fe NP content.

Presenter: Jenny Nelson, PhD (Application Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)

Jenny Nelson received her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Cincinnati in 2007, and her MBA from Saint Mary’s College of California in 2011. Currently, Jenny is an Application Chemist for the Life Science and Chemical Analysis team at Agilent Technologies, joining in 2012 (with a step away in 2019). Jenny is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at University of California, Davis since 2013. Jenny has been very active with AOAC and ASTM over the past 8 years, serving on expert review panels, chairing committees, and volunteering to develop new methods needed by the industry.

Presenter: Mark Kelinske (Application Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)

Mark Kelinske is an Applications Chemist with Agilent Technologies, specializing in advanced ICP-MS and ICP-MS/MS techniques. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. Prior to Agilent, Mark was a senior research scientist and research group manager with Southern Research Institute in Birmingham, AL, where he focused on low-level analytical chemistry, method development, and research program management.