U.S. patent application number 17/655744 was filed with the patent office on 2022-09-29 for two-volume cryoablation cell apparatus and ablation method thereof for la-icp-ms analysis of fluid inclusion.
The applicant listed for this patent is Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Invention is credited to Hongrui FAN, Liangliang HUANG, Heping ZHU.
Application Number | 20220310377 17/655744 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006588934 |
Filed Date | 2022-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220310377 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HUANG; Liangliang ; et
al. |
September 29, 2022 |
TWO-VOLUME CRYOABLATION CELL APPARATUS AND ABLATION METHOD THEREOF
FOR LA-ICP-MS ANALYSIS OF FLUID INCLUSION
Abstract
A two-volume cryoablation cell apparatus and an ablation method
thereof for LA-ICP-MS analysis of a fluid inclusion are provided.
The two-volume cryoablation cell apparatus includes an ablation
cell base having a square metal substrate and a metal abutment
disposed on the metal substrate and shaped as a hollow cylinder; a
cryogenic component including a cryogenic stage disposed on an axis
of the metal abutment and configured to hold a sample; a
small-volume ablation cell positioned above the cryogenic stage and
in contact with an upper surface of the sample during use, wherein
the small-volume ablation cell is of a hollow cylindrical shape
with a transparent closed upper portion and an open lower portion;
and an ablation cell cover body capable of being buckled on an
upper opening of the metal abutment during use and configured to
seal the sample within the metal abutment.
Inventors: |
HUANG; Liangliang; (Beijing,
CN) ; FAN; Hongrui; (Beijing, CN) ; ZHU;
Heping; (Beijing, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of
Sciences |
Beijing |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000006588934 |
Appl. No.: |
17/655744 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2022 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 1/04 20130101; G01N
2001/045 20130101; H01J 49/0418 20130101; H01J 49/164 20130101;
G01N 1/42 20130101; H01J 49/105 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01J 49/04 20060101
H01J049/04; G01N 1/04 20060101 G01N001/04; G01N 1/42 20060101
G01N001/42; H01J 49/10 20060101 H01J049/10; H01J 49/16 20060101
H01J049/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 25, 2021 |
CN |
202110319807.1 |
Claims
1. A two-volume cryoablation cell apparatus for LA-ICP-MS analysis
of a fluid inclusion, comprising: an ablation cell base, having a
square metal substrate and a metal abutment disposed on the metal
substrate and shaped as a hollow cylinder, wherein the ablation
cell base forms a large-volume ablation cell, wherein a middle
portion of the metal substrate has a first through hole and is
provided with a first light-transmitting glass sheet; the metal
abutment is coincident with the metal substrate on an axis, and has
a second through hole arranged along the axis; an upper opening of
the second through hole is configured to allow a fluid inclusion
sample to be placed therethrough, and a lower opening of the second
through hole is aligned to the first through hole and configured to
guide light transmitted through the first light-transmitting glass
sheet; a first gas inlet adapter for introducing a helium gas, a
first gas outlet adapter for discharging the helium gas, a liquid
inlet adapter for introducing liquid nitrogen, a liquid outlet
adapter for discharging the liquid nitrogen and a position
adjusting knob are disposed on a peripheral wall of the metal
abutment; a cryogenic component, comprising a cryogenic stage
disposed on the axis of the metal abutment and configured to hold
the sample, wherein the cryogenic stage has a fluid channel inside
and is provided, on an axis thereof, with a third through hole for
transmitting light, and the fluid channel has one end connected
with the liquid inlet adapter via a liquid inlet pipeline and the
other end connected with the liquid outlet adapter via a liquid
outlet pipeline; a small-volume ablation cell, positioned above the
cryogenic stage and in contact with an upper surface of the sample
during use, the small-volume ablation cell being of a hollow
cylindrical shape with a transparent closed upper portion and an
open lower portion, wherein the small-volume ablation cell is
provided with a second gas inlet adapter on a side wall near a
lower portion thereof and a second gas outlet adapter on a side
wall near an upper portion thereof, wherein the second gas inlet
adapter is connected with the first gas inlet adapter via a hose,
and the second gas outlet adapter is connected with the first gas
outlet adapter via a hose; the small-volume ablation cell is
integrally installed on a mobile support which is provided therein
with a thread matched with a screwing portion; the screwing portion
is provided with the position adjusting knob on the peripheral wall
of the metal abutment, so as to drive the mobile support and adjust
a position of the small-volume ablation cell when the position
adjusting knob is rotated; and an axis of the screwing portion is
aligned with the axis of the cryogenic stage; and, an ablation cell
cover body, which is capable of being buckled on the upper opening
of the metal abutment during use, and seals the sample within the
metal abutment, wherein a middle portion of the ablation cell cover
body has a fourth through hole and is provided with a second
light-transmitting glass sheet; wherein the first gas inlet adapter
and the first gas outlet adapter are arranged along a first
direction, the liquid inlet adapter and the liquid outlet adapter
are arranged along a second direction, and the first direction and
the second direction are perpendicular to each other.
2. (canceled)
3. The two-volume cryoablation cell apparatus for LA-ICP-MS
analysis of the fluid inclusion according to claim 1, wherein the
peripheral wall of the metal abutment is further provided with a
clamping portion for clamping the ablation cell cover body; and
after the ablation cell cover body is clamped to the clamping
portion, the axis of the ablation cell cover body is capable of
coinciding with the axis of the metal abutment.
4. The two-volume cryoablation cell apparatus for LA-ICP-MS
analysis of the fluid inclusion according to claim 3, wherein the
clamping portion comprises a first clamping portion located above
the first gas inlet adapter, a second clamping portion located
above the liquid inlet adapter, and a third clamping portion
located between the gas outlet adapter and the liquid outlet
adapter, wherein the first clamping portion, the second clamping
portion and the third clamping portion each have an inwardly
disposed groove to clamp an edge of the ablation cell cover body;
the third clamping portion is further provided with a thread
adjusting portion for adjusting a position of the third clamping
portion, and the thread adjusting portion is configured to allow
the third clamping portion to approach and clamp the ablation cell
cover body after the ablation cell cover body is clamped by the
first clamping portion and the second clamping portion.
5. The two-volume cryoablation cell apparatus for LA-ICP-MS
analysis of the fluid inclusion according to claim 4, wherein the
position adjusting knob is located between the first gas inlet
adapter and the liquid outlet adapter or between the first gas
outlet adapter and the liquid inlet adapter; and the ablation cell
cover body, the cryogenic stage, the metal abutment and the metal
substrate are arranged from top to bottom, and coincide with each
other on the axis.
6. The two-volume cryoablation cell apparatus for LA-ICP-MS
analysis of the fluid inclusion according to claim 1, wherein the
mobile support is of a square shape, and one end of the mobile
support away from the screwing portion is provided with an elastic
clamping portion, which is configured to clamp the small-volume
ablation cell; and the small-volume ablation cell is integrally
formed from a glass material, and a position of the small-volume
ablation cell is adjusted to be above the cryogenic stage by the
mobile support during use.
7. The two-volume cryoablation cell apparatus for LA-ICP-MS
analysis of the fluid inclusion according to claim 1, wherein the
first gas outlet adapter is communicated with a first end of a
three-way adapter via a hose, a second end of the three-way adapter
is introduced with a helium gas, and a third end of the three-way
adapter is configured to discharge the gas; and the gas in the
small-volume ablation cell flows into the first end of the
three-way adapter via the first gas outlet adapter and flows out
via the third end, under the action of the three-way adapter.
8. The two-volume cryoablation cell apparatus for LA-ICP-MS
analysis of the fluid inclusion according to claim 7, wherein the
first end is located on a first branch of the three-way adapter,
the second end is located on a second branch of the three-way
adapter, and the third end is located on a third branch of the
three-way adapter; the second branch and the third branch are
arranged in one direction, and the first branch is perpendicular to
the second branch and the third branch; and the second branch has a
constriction design near the first branch, and the third branch has
a constriction design near the first branch.
9. The two-volume cryoablation cell apparatus for LA-ICP-MS
analysis of the fluid inclusion according to claim 1, wherein when
the sample is observed microscopically, light passes through the
first through hole via the first light-transmitting glass sheet,
and irradiates the sample via the third through hole of the
cryogenic stage after passing through the second through hole; and
when the sample is ablated by laser, the laser passes through the
fourth through hole via the second light-transmitting glass sheet,
and is introduced to the surface of the sample on the cryogenic
stage after passing through the upper portion of the small-volume
ablation cell.
10. A two-volume cryoablation method for LA-ICP-MS analysis of a
fluid inclusion, in which the two-volume cryoablation cell
apparatus for LA-ICP-MS analysis of the fluid inclusion defined in
claim 1 is used, wherein the method comprises: placing and fixing
the fluid inclusion sample on the cryogenic stage, and buckling the
ablation cell cover body on the upper opening of the metal
abutment; adjusting a position of the small-volume ablation cell
until the small-volume ablation cell is located above the cryogenic
stage and contacts the upper surface of the sample; passing light
through the first through hole via the first light-transmitting
glass sheet to irradiate the sample via the third through hole of
the cryogenic stage after passing through the second through hole,
and adjusting the small-volume ablation cell to be positioned above
fluid inclusion components in the sample by microscopically
observing the fluid inclusion components in the sample; introducing
the helium gas through the first gas inlet adapter, and discharging
the helium gas via the first gas outlet adapter after the helium
gas passes through the second gas inlet adapter and the second gas
outlet adapter; introducing liquid nitrogen through the liquid
inlet adapter and discharging the liquid nitrogen via the liquid
outlet adapter after the liquid nitrogen passes through the
cryogenic stage; and passing laser through the fourth through hole
via the second light-transmitting glass sheet and directing the
laser to the upper surface of the sample on the cryogenic stage
after the laser passes through the upper portion of the
small-volume ablation cell in order to ablate the sample.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to in
situ laser micro-area chemical composition analysis of fluid
inclusions, and more particularly to a two-volume cryoablation cell
apparatus and an ablation method thereof for IA-ICP-MS analysis of
a fluid inclusion.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
(LA-ICP-MS for short) analysis as an important in-situ micro-area
analysis method has been widely applied to the analysis and
detection of samples in different fields such as geology,
materials, metallurgy, semiconductors and biology because it can
rapidly and quantitatively detect a variety of micro and trace
elements simultaneously. At the present stage, most of the
LA-ICP-MS analysis focuses on in situ micro-area (several
micrometers to tens of micrometers) element content and isotope
ratio analysis, geological age determination and other works for
the surface of a solid mineral sample. However, for the fluid
inclusions buried in the (deep) part of the minerals, generally
small in volume, and, with a small amount of samples to be analyzed
(which contain fluid inclusion components in the form of a
gas/liquid state, the fluid inclusion components are here also
known as fluid inclusion constituents or as fluid inclusion
species), no in-depth analytical testing, work, has been
performed.
[0003] In the field of geological research, fluid inclusions are
paleo-fluids sequestered in minerals and rocks, and are the only
direct records of fluids involved in the internal geological
process of the earth. The LA-ICP-MS in-situ micro-area component
analysis for the fluid inclusions may solve important issues such
as chemical composition, source, metal element distribution and
evolution process of ore-forming fluids of metallic and
non-metallic deposits, and may promote the progress in metallogenic
processes and theoretical researches on genesis of metallic
deposits as the key technologies to understand the metallogenic
process and genesis of ore deposits and guide the exploration of
ore deposits.
[0004] At present, an LA-ICP-MS analysis device is mainly used to
analyze solid mineral samples. A conventional ablation cell used,
by the LA-ICP-MS analysis device has an integrally cylindrical or
square space inside, with a large volume. The volume of an ablation
cell designed commercially or designed by each laboratory is about
100 cm.sup.3 to 200 cm.sup.3. Due to the large volume of a solid
mineral sample, its surface is flat and easy to focus. Therefore,
when an existing large-volume ablation cell is used for an analysis
test, the sample may be ablated uniformly and stably, and the purge
time is long enough to send sample aerosol into a mass spectrometer
for analysis. In general, during the experiment (taking, a zircon
U--Pb dating experiment as an example), the test time of a
measuring point in the conventional ablation cell is about 80
seconds in which the first 20 seconds is for carrier gas purging,
the subsequent 40 seconds is for ablation, and the last 20 seconds
is for carrier gas purging to purge out the aerosol resulting from
the laser ablation in the ablation cell for the next analysis.
[0005] However, the conventional ablation cell is not suitable for
analyzing fluid inclusion samples at present. This is because for
the LA-ICP-MS analysis of fluid inclusions, firstly, unlike the
case where the volume of the solid mineral sample is large, the
volume of a single fluid inclusion sample is very small, so that if
the volume of a cavity of the ablation cell is too large, aerosols
of the fluid inclusion sample may be diluted and may not be quickly
transferred into the mass spectrometer as many as possible.
Secondly, due to the difference in physical properties between,
fluid inclusion components and host minerals of the fluid inclusion
components (the two together constitute a sample of the fluid
inclusion, which is referred to as "a fluid inclusion sample"), the
host minerals are easily thermally cracked or exploded in a laser
ablation process, which would cause the fluid inclusion components
to dissipate, resulting in distorted analysis results and
ineffective fluid inclusion analysis. Thirdly, since the fluid
inclusion components have a certain internal pressure in the fluid
inclusion sample, they are easily vaporized in a very short time
when they are opened by ablation, resulting in a failure to obtain
uniform and stable sample signals of the fluid inclusion components
in a long term. In this way, it is extremely difficult to process
data in a later stage.
[0006] Accordingly, there is a need of developing and improving an
ablation cell apparatus for LA-ICP-MS analysis of a fluid
inclusion, so as to realize the effective LA-ICP-MS analysis of the
fluid inclusion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a two-volume
cryoablation cell apparatus and an ablation method thereof for
LA-ICP-MS analysis of a fluid inclusion to at least partially solve
one of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art.
[0008] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is
provided a two-volume cryoablation cell apparatus for LA-ICP-MS
analysis of a fluid inclusion, including:
[0009] an ablation cell base, having a square metal substrate and a
metal abutment disposed on the metal substrate and shaped as a
hollow cylinder, wherein the ablation cell base forms a
large-volume ablation cell, wherein
[0010] a middle portion of the metal substrate has a first through
hole and is provided with a first light-transmitting glass
sheet;
[0011] the metal abutment is coincident with the metal substrate on
an axis, and has a second through hole arranged along the axis; an
upper opening of the second through hole is configured to allow a
fluid inclusion sample to be placed therethrough, and a lower
opening of the second through hole is aligned to the first through
hole and configured to guide light transmitted through the first
light-transmitting glass sheet;
[0012] a first gas inlet adapter for introducing a helium gas, a
first gas outlet adapter for discharging the helium gas, a liquid
inlet adapter for introducing liquid nitrogen, a liquid outlet
adapter for discharging the liquid nitrogen and a position
adjusting knob are disposed on a peripheral wall of the metal
abutment;
[0013] a cryogenic component, including a cryogenic stage disposed
on the axis of the metal abutment and configured to hold, the
sample, wherein the cryogenic stage has a fluid channel inside and
is provided, on an axis thereof, with a third through hole for
transmitting light, and the fluid channel has one end connected
with the liquid inlet adapter via, a liquid inlet pipeline and the
other end connected with the liquid outlet adapter via a liquid
outlet pipeline;
[0014] a small-volume ablation cell, positioned above the cryogenic
stage and in contact with an upper surface of the sample during,
use, the small-volume ablation cell being of a hollow cylindrical
shape with a transparent closed upper portion and an open lower
portion, wherein
[0015] the small volume ablation cell is provided with a second
gas, inlet adapter on a side wall near a lower portion thereof and
a second gas outlet adapter on a side wall near an upper portion
thereof, wherein the second gas inlet adapter is connected with the
first gas inlet adapter via a hose, and the second gas outlet
adapter is connected with the first gas outlet adapter via a
hose;
[0016] the small-volume ablation cell is integrally installed on a
mobile support which is provided therein with a thread matched with
a screwing portion; the screwing portion is provided with the
position adjusting knob on the peripheral wall of the metal
abutment, so as to drive the mobile support and adjust a position
of the small-volume ablation cell when the position adjusting knob
is rotated; and an axis of the screwing portion is aligned with the
axis of the cryogenic stage;
[0017] and,
[0018] an ablation cell cover body, which is capable of being
buckled on the upper opening of the metal abutment during use, and
seals the sample within the metal abutment, wherein a middle
portion of the ablation cell cover body has a fourth through hole,
and is provided with a second light-transmitting glass sheet.
[0019] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first gas
inlet adapter and the first gas outlet adapter are arranged along a
first direction, the liquid inlet adapter and the liquid outlet
adapter are arranged along a second direction, and the first
direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each
other.
[0020] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the
peripheral wall of the metal abutment is further provided with a
clamping portion for clamping the ablation cell cover body; and
after the ablation cell cover body is clamped to the clamping
portion, the axis of the ablation cell cover body is capable of
coinciding with the axis of the metal abutment.
[0021] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the clamping
portion includes a first clamping portion located above the first
gas inlet adapter, a second clamping portion located above the
liquid inlet adapter, and a third clamping portion located between
the gas outlet adapter and the liquid outlet adapter, wherein the
first clamping portion, the second clamping portion and the third
clamping portion each have an inwardly disposed groove to clamp an
edge of the ablation cell cover body; the third clamping portion is
further provided with a thread adjusting portion for adjusting a
position of the third clamping portion, and the thread adjusting
portion is configured to allow the third clamping portion to
approach and clamp the ablation cell cover body after the ablation
cell cover body is clamped by the first clamping portion and the
second clamping portion.
[0022] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the position
adjusting knob is located between the first gas inlet adapter and
the liquid outlet adapter or between the first gas outlet adapter
and the liquid inlet adapter; and the ablation cell cover body, the
cryogenic stage, the metal abutment and the metal substrate are
arranged from top to bottom, and coincide with each other on the
axis.
[0023] In, some embodiments of the present disclosure, the mobile
support is of a square shape, and one end of the mobile support
away from the screwing portion is provided with an elastic
clamping, portion, which is configured to clamp the small-volume
ablation cell; and the small-volume ablation cell is integrally
formed from a glass material, and a position of the small-volume
ablation cell is adjusted to be above the cryogenic stage by the
mobile support during use.
[0024] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first gas
outlet adapter is communicated with a first end of a three-way
adapter via a hose, a second end of the three-way adapter is
introduced, with a helium gas, and a third end of the three-way
adapter is configured to discharge the helium gas; the helium gas
in the small-volume ablation cell flows into the first end of the
three-way adapter via the first gas outlet adapter and flows out
via the third end, under the action of the three-way adapter.
[0025] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first end
is located on a first branch of the three-way adapter, the second
end is located on a second branch of the three-way adapter, and the
third end is located on a third branch of the three-way adapter;
the second branch and the third branch are arranged in one
direction, and the first branch is perpendicular to the second
branch and the third branch; and the second branch has a
constriction design near the first branch, and the third branch has
a constriction design near the first branch.
[0026] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, when the
sample is observed microscopically, light passes through the first,
through hole via the first light-transmitting glass sheet, and
irradiates the sample via the third through hole of the cryogenic
stage after passing through the second through hole; and when the
sample is ablated by laser, the laser passes through the fourth
through hole via, the second light-transmitting glass sheet, and is
introduced to the surface of the sample on the cryogenic stage
after passing through the upper portion of the small-volume
ablation cell.
[0027] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is
provided a two-volume cryoablation method for LA-ICP-MS analysis of
a fluid inclusion, in which the two-volume cryoablation cell device
for LA-ICP-MS analysis of the fluid inclusion method defined in any
one of claims 1 to 9 is used, wherein the method includes:
[0028] placing and fixing the fluid inclusion sample on the
cryogenic stage, and buckling the ablation cell cover body on the
upper opening of the metal abutment;
[0029] adjusting a position of the small-volume ablation cell until
the small-volume ablation cell is located above the cryogenic stage
and contacts the upper surface of the sample;
[0030] passing light through the first through hole via the first
light-transmitting glass sheet to irradiate the sample via the
third through hole of the cryogenic stage after passing through the
second through hole, and adjusting the small-volume ablation cell
to be positioned above fluid inclusion components in the sample by
microscopically observing the fluid inclusion components in the
sample;
[0031] introducing the helium gas through the first gas inlet
adapter, and discharging the helium gas via the first gas outlet
adapter after the helium gas passes through the second gas inlet
adapter and the second gas outlet adapter;
[0032] introducing the liquid nitrogen through the liquid inlet
adapter and discharging the liquid nitrogen via the liquid outlet
adapter after the liquid nitrogen passes through the cryogenic
stage; and
[0033] passing laser through the fourth through hole via the second
light-transmitting glass sheet and directing the laser to the upper
surface of the sample on the cryogenic stage after the laser passes
through the upper portion of the small-volume ablation cell in
order to ablate the sample.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] By way of example only, embodiments of the present
disclosure will now be described with reference to accompanying
drawings, in which the same or similar reference numerals refer to
the same or similar elements.
[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram showing a structure of a
two-volume cryoablation cell apparatus for LA-ICP-MS analysis of a
fluid inclusion according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0036] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram showing a structure of a
two-volume cryoablation cell apparatus for LA-ICP-MS analysis of a
fluid inclusion in a top view according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0037] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram showing a structure of a
two-volume cryoablation cell apparatus for LA-ICP-MS analysis of a
fluid inclusion when an ablation cell cover body is removed
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0038] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram showing a structure of a
small-volume ablation cell according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0039] FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram showing a structure of
connecting a small-volume ablation cell and a three-way adapter
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0040] FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram showing a structure of a
mobile support according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0041] FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram showing a structure of an
ablation cell cover body according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0042] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in
more detail below with reference to accompanying drawings. While
certain embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the
accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the present
disclosure may be embodied in various forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein, but
rather are provided for more thoroughly and completely
understanding the present disclosure. It should be understood that
the accompanying drawings and, the embodiments of the present
disclosure are only used for exemplary purposes, and are not
intended to limit the protective scope of the present
disclosure.
[0043] In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when a
two-volume cryoablation cell for LA-ICP-MS analysis of a fluid
inclusion is designed, it is necessary to comprehensively consider
a cavity volume of the ablation cell, a size and a quantity of
samples that may be accommodated, a pneumatic layout, a carrier gas
transfer efficiency and other factors. Particularly, for the
LA-ICP-MS analysis of the fluid inclusion, firstly, since the
amount of an individual fluid inclusion sample is extremely small,
it is desirable to reduce the cavity volume of the ablation cell to
prevent aerosols of the fluid inclusion sample from being diluted.
Meanwhile, it is desirable to optimize the pneumatic layout of the
cavity of the ablation cell to achieve high sample aerosol transfer
efficiency, so as to quickly transfer as many aerosols of the fluid
inclusion sample as possible into the mass spectrometer for
efficient sample analysis. Secondly, in order to prevent the loss
of the fluid inclusion components due to thermal cracking or
explosion of the host minerals in the laser ablation process, it is
necessary to keep the fluid inclusion components, which are in the
form of a gas/liquid state in the fluid inclusion samples, in a
solid phase (including a homogeneous solid phase or a near solid
phase). Finally, in order to prevent the internal pressure of the
fluid inclusion components themselves from causing gasification in
a very short time when the components are opened by ablation, it is
also necessary to keep the fluid inclusion components, which are in
the form of a gas/liquid state in the fluid inclusion samples in a
solid phase, so as to reduce the pressure of the fluid inclusion
components and keep the fluid inclusion components in the solid
phase for a longer time, thereby obtaining uniform and stable
sample signals about the fluid inclusion components in a longer
term, which is convenient for later data processing.
[0044] A number of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure
will be described below with reference to accompanying drawings. As
shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 7, embodiments of the present disclosure
provide a two-volume cryoablation cell apparatus for LA-ICP-MS
analysis of a fluid inclusion (also referred to as "a two-volume
cryoablation cell apparatus for performing LA-ICP-MS analysis on a
fluid inclusion" or "a two-volume cryoablation cell for LA-ICP-MS
analysis of a fluid inclusion").
[0045] The two-volume cryoablation cell apparatus for LA-ICP-MS
analysis of the fluid inclusion shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 includes
an ablation cell base 1, a cryogenic component 2, a small-volume
ablation cell 3 and an ablation cell cover body 4.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 1, the ablation cell base 1 has a square
metal substrate 10 and a metal abutment 11 disposed on the metal
substrate 10 and shaped as a hollow cylinder. As an alternative
embodiment, the metal substrate 10 may be of a circle shape or the
like. The metal abutment 11 may be of a hollow square column shape
or the like. The ablation cell base 1 forms a large-volume ablation
cell (also referred to as a "large ablation cell"). More
particularly, an internal cavity formed by the metal substrate 10
and the metal abutment 11 forms an, ablation space of the
large-volume ablation cell. In terms of the size, the volume of the
internal cavity of the large-volume ablation cell may be reduced to
5 cm.sup.3 to 50 cm.sup.3 (preferably 5 cm.sup.3 to 10 cm.sup.3),
in order to hold the fluid inclusion sample for direct
measurement.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a first through hole 101 is
provided in the middle portion of the metal substrate 10 and a
first light-transmitting glass sheet 102 is mounted, on the metal
substrate 10. For example, the first light-transmitting glass sheet
102 is capable of covering the first through hole 101, and the
first through hole 101 may be sealed by arranging a sealing ring
around the first through hole 101. Here, since the first through
hole 101 is capable of transmitting light, the light may be
transmitted upwards after passing through the first through hole
101 and the first light-transmitting glass sheet 102.
[0048] With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the metal abutment 11
is coincident with the metal substrate 10 on an axis, and has a
second through hole 111 arranged along the axis. An upper opening
of the second through hole 111 is configured to allow the fluid
inclusion sample to be placed therethrough, and a lower opening of
the second through hole 111 is aligned with the first through hole
101 and configured to guide the light transmitted through the first
light-transmitting glass sheet 102. The "axis" here refers to, for
example, a line formed by connecting the center of each cross
section. Taking the metal substrate 10 as an example, its axis is a
line perpendicular to an upper surface of the metal substrate and
passing through the center of the metal substrate.
[0049] As an example, in order to adapt to the detection of the
fluid inclusion, the diameter of the second through hole 111 may be
reduced, such that the volume of the cavity of the large-volume
ablation cell is reduced and aerosols of the fluid inclusion sample
are prevented from being diluted. At this time, a fluid inclusion
sample with a larger size may be put into the second through hole
111 and directly ablated by laser, so as to realize direct
detection of the fluid inclusion sample with a larger size.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a first gas inlet adapter 112
for introducing a helium gas, a first gas outlet adapter 113 for
discharging the helium gas, a liquid inlet adapter 114 for
introducing liquid nitrogen, a liquid outlet adapter 115 for
discharging the liquid nitrogen, and a position adjusting knob 116
are disposed on a peripheral wall of the metal abutment 11.
[0051] As an example, the first gas inlet adapter 112 has a first
gas inlet for introducing the helium gas, and the first gas outlet
adapter 113 has a first gas outlet for discharging the helium gas;
and the liquid inlet adapter 114 has a liquid inlet for introducing
the liquid nitrogen, and the liquid outlet adapter 115 has a liquid
outlet for discharging the liquid nitrogen.
[0052] The first gas inlet adapter 112 and the first gas outlet
adapter 113 are internally fluidly communicated, such that the
helium gas may purge an interior of the entire ablation cell
apparatus, so as to prepare for subsequent sample detection. The
liquid inlet adapter 114 and, the liquid outlet adapter 115 are
internally fluidly communicated as well, such that by introducing
the liquid nitrogen into the metal abutment 11, a cooling effect on
the fluid inclusion sample is achieved. As such, the fluid
inclusion components in a gas/liquid state in the fluid inclusion
sample are kept in a solid phase. As a preferred embodiment, in a
process of detecting the sample, the liquid nitrogen and the helium
gas should be kept in a dynamic process of continuous inflow and
outflow to allow the overall measurement environment to remain
stable.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the first gas inlet adapter
112 and the first gas outlet adapter 113 are arranged along a first
direction, the liquid inlet adapter 114 and the liquid outlet
adapter 115 are arranged along a second direction, and the first
direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other.
At this time, the first gas inlet adapter 112, the first gas outlet
adapter 113, the liquid inlet adapter 114 and the liquid outlet
adapter 115 are evenly distributed on the peripheral wall of the
metal abutment 11.
[0054] Still referring to FIG. 3, the cryogenic component 2
includes a cryogenic stage 20 arranged on the axis of the metal
abutment 11 (for example, at a central position) and configured to
hold the sample. The cryogenic stage 20 has a fluid channel inside
and is provided, on an axis (for example, at a center position)
thereof with a third through hole 21 for transmitting light,
wherein the fluid channel has one end connected with the liquid
inlet adapter 114 via a liquid inlet pipeline (not shown), and the
other end connected, with the liquid outlet adapter 115 via a
liquid outlet pipeline (not shown).
[0055] Preferably, when the sample is placed above the cryogenic
stage 20, it may be fixed (for example, detachably fixed, such as
adhered; for another example, may be fixed with a sample clamp) on
the cryogenic stage 20, so as to avoid movement. In some
embodiments, the liquid inlet pipeline and the liquid outlet
pipeline each may be made of a copper pipe, so as to facilitate the
flow of a cryogenic liquid (for example, the liquid nitrogen). In
addition, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, only the
design of the cryogenic stage is adopted, and thus compared with a
design incorporating heating and cryogenics, the apparatus is
simpler in structure, lower in manufacturing cost and easier to
control. In actual use, an operator or experimenter may directly
control or set a temperature of the liquid nitrogen based on
experience (such as an empirical value of solid phase temperature
of the fluid inclusion components), such that the liquid nitrogen
may be directly introduced onto the cryogenic stage to achieve
temperature adjustment.
[0056] Preferably, the fluid channel may be curved or spiral. At
this time, the liquid nitrogen flows into, the fluid channel inside
the cryogenic stage 20 via the liquid inlet adapter 114 and the
liquid inlet pipeline, and then flows out via the liquid outlet
pipeline and the liquid outlet adapter 115 after the circulation,
so as to cool the cryogenic stage 20 for cooling the fluid
inclusion sample, such that the fluid inclusion components in the
fluid inclusion sample in a gas/liquid state remain in a solid
phase state. At this time, in a process ablating the fluid
inclusion sample, the fluid inclusion components contained in the
fluid inclusion sample will not be easily lost (for example,
because the host minerals are easily thermally cracked or exploded
in a laser ablation process, or since the host minerals are easily
vaporized within a very short time when being opened by ablation
due to the internal pressure of the fluid inclusion itself), and
uniform and stable sample signals about the fluid inclusion
components may be obtained in a long term, which is convenient for
subsequent data processing.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a small-volume ablation cell
3 (which may also be referred to as a "small ablation cell") is
located, above the cryogenic stage 20 and is in contact with (for
example, in close proximity to) the upper surface of the sample
during use. The small-volume ablation cell 3 is of a hollow
cylindrical shape with a transparent closed upper portion 33 and an
open lower portion 32.
[0058] As an example, compared with the large-volume ablation cell,
the volume of the internal cavity of the small-volume ablation cell
3 may be further reduced, which may more effectively prevent the
aerosols of the fluid, inclusion sample from being diluted. At this
time, the laser may ablate the upper surface of the sample
corresponding to the open lower portion 32 of the small-volume
ablation cell 3 after passing through the transparent, closed upper
portion 33 of the small-volume ablation cell 3. In this way, the
aerosols of the fluid inclusion sample may be quickly transferred
into the mass spectrometer as many as possible. In operation, for
example, a fluid inclusion sample with a smaller size may be
accommodated inside the small-volume ablation cell 3. At this time,
since the inner cavity of the small-volume ablation cell 3 has a
smaller volume, the aerosols of the fluid inclusion sample may be
prevented from being diluted, thereby measuring the fluid inclusion
effectively. In addition, since a design of the two-volume ablation
cell with a large-volume ablation cell and a small-volume ablation
cell is adopted, the apparatus may adapt to the measurement of the
fluid inclusion, samples with different sizes, showing better
flexibility.
[0059] As shown in FIG. 4, the small-volume ablation cell 3 is
provided with a second gas inlet adapter 30 on a side wall near its
lower portion 32 and a second gas outlet adapter 31 on a side wall
near its upper portion 33. The second gas inlet adapter 30 is
connected with the first gas inlet adapter 112 via a hose, and the
second gas outlet adapter 31 is connected with the first gas outlet
adapter 113 via a hose.
[0060] As an example, the helium gas flows into the second gas
inlet adapter 30 through the hose via the first gas inlet adapter
112, and then flows out of the first gas outlet adapter 113 through
the hose after passing through the second gas outlet adapter 31. In
this way, both the large-volume ablation cell and the small-volume
ablation cell are purged with the helium gas, and the aerosols of
the sample may flow out quickly in a process of ablating the
sample, which is convenient for subsequent further analysis. In
some embodiments, a helical groove is provided in the inner wall of
the small-volume ablation cell 3 from the second gas inlet, adapter
30 to the second gas outlet adapter 31, and the helical groove
designed in this way is conducive to the rapid flow of the gas,
which further improves the pneumatic layout.
[0061] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the first gas outlet adapter
113 may be communicated with a first end 71 (located on a first
branch 74) of a three-way adapter 7 via a hose 70, and a helium gas
is introduced from a second end 72 (located on a second branch 75)
of the three-way adapter 7, and is discharged at a third end 73
(located on a third branch 76) of the three-way adapter 7. The gas
in the small-volume ablation cell 3 flows into the first end 71 of
the three-way adapter 7 via the first gas outlet adapter 113 and
flows out via the third end 73, under the action of the three-way
adapter 7.
[0062] Preferably, the second branch 75 and the third branch 76 of
the three-way adapter 7 are arranged in one direction (at, this
time, the second end 72 and the third end 73 are in one direction
and face opposite sides), and the first branch 74 is perpendicular
to the second branch 75 and the third branch 76. The first branch
74, the second branch 75 and the third branch 76 are in fluid
communication with each other. Moreover, the second branch 75 of
the three-way adapter 7 has a constriction design near the first
branch 74, and the third branch 76 of the three-way adapter 7
further has a constriction design near the first branch 74, such
that the helium gas flows into an outlet of the third end 73 from
the second end 72. Accordingly, the gas within the three-way
adapter 7 relatively easily flows out from the third end 73 rapidly
as a whole.
[0063] Moreover, since the three-way adapter 7 and the small-volume
ablation cell 3 are communicated, with each other, and have the
above structural designs such as the constriction, the Venturi
effect of the three-way adapter 7 may be utilized to allow the gas
within the small-volume ablation cell 3 to flow into the first end
71 of the three-way adapter 7 via, the first gas outlet adapter 113
and flow out via the third end 73 (at this time, the pneumatic
layout within the small-volume ablation cell 3 is optimized as
well), such that the aerosols of the fluid inclusion sample may be
more effectively and rapidly transferred into the mass spectrometer
as many as possible.
[0064] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, the small-volume ablation
cell 3 is integrally mounted on the movable support 5, and the
movable support 5 is provided therein with a thread 51 matching
with the screwing portion 50. The screwing portion 50 is provided
(formed) with a position adjusting knob 116 on the peripheral wall
of the metal abutment 11 (for example, the position adjusting knob
116 is disposed at one end of the screwing portion 50 and is
integrally formed with the screwing portion 50), so as to drive the
movable support 5 when the position adjusting knob 116 is rotated
and adjust the position of the small-volume ablation cell 3. The
axis of the screwing portion 50 is aligned with the axis of the
cryogenic stage 20.
[0065] As an example, due to the mutual threaded cooperation of the
screwing portion 50 with the thread 51, the movable support 5 may
be driven when the position adjusting knob 116 is rotated, so as to
realize the position adjustment of the small-volume ablation cell 3
mounted on the movable support 5. In addition, the axis of the
screwing portion 50 is aligned with the axis of the cryogenic stage
20. For example, the axis of the screwing portion 50 and the axis
of the cryogenic stage 20 are perpendicular to and intersect with
each other, at this time, the axis of the screwing portion 50 is
aligned with a center position of the cryogenic stage 20.
Accordingly, for a fluid inclusion sample with a larger size, the
small-volume ablation cell 3 may also move on the surface of the
sample, so as to realize the measurement of the sample at multiple
points.
[0066] As an example, the small-volume ablation cell 3 is
integrally formed with a glass material, and its position is
adjusted to be above the cryogenic stage 20 by the movable support
5 during use. In some embodiments, the position adjusting knob 116
may be located between the first gas inlet adapter 112 and the
liquid outlet adapter 115, or located between the first gas outlet
adapter 113 and the liquid inlet adapter 114.
[0067] As an example, the movable bracket 5 may be of a square
shape (for example, a square with rounded corners), and one end of
the movable bracket 5 away from the screwing portion 50 is provided
with an elastic clamping portion 52, which is configured to clamp
the small-volume ablation cell 3. Since the elastic clamping
portion 52 has a certain elasticity, the small-volume ablation cell
3 may be easily removed and replaced. At this time, small-volume
ablation cells 3 with various diameters may be designed for actual
measurement, so as to adapt to the requirements of different sample
sizes or measurement environments. In addition, the position of the
small-volume ablation cell 3 clamped on the elastic clamping
portion 52 may be further adjusted, so as to meet measurement needs
of fluid inclusion samples with different thicknesses, such that
the small-volume ablation cell 3 may touch the upper surface of the
sample when being adjusted to be above the sample.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 7, the ablation cell cover body
4 is a detachable component, which may be buckled on an upper
opening of the metal abutment 11 during use, and seal the sample
within the metal abutment 11. A fourth through hole 40 is provided
in the middle portion of the ablation cell cover body 4 and a
second light-transmitting glass sheet 41 is installed on the
ablation cell cover body 4.
[0069] As an example, the second light-transmitting glass sheet 41
is capable of covering the fourth through hole 40, and a sealing
effect on the fourth through hole 40 is achieved by providing a
sealing ring around the fourth through hole 40. In some
embodiments, the ablation cell cover body 4, the cryogenic stage
20, the metal abutment 11 and the metal substrate 10 are arranged
from top to bottom and are coincident with each other on the
axis.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a clamping portion for
clamping the ablation cell cover body 4 may be further disposed on
the peripheral wall of the metal abutment 11, and after the
ablation cell cover body 4 is clamped to the clamping portion, its
axis may be mutually coincident with the axis of the metal abutment
11.
[0071] As an example, the clamping portion includes a first
clamping portion 61 located above the first gas inlet adapter 112,
a second clamping portion 62 located above the liquid inlet adapter
114, and a third clamping portion 63 located between the first gas
outlet adapter 113 and the liquid outlet adapter 115. Here, through
a limiting action of three different positions, the ablation cell
cover body 4 may be accurately located on the upper opening of the
metal abutment 11 and may coincide with the axis of the metal
abutment 11 on the axis.
[0072] As an example, the first clamping portion 61, the second
clamping portion 62 and the third clamping portion 63 each have an
inwardly disposed groove to, clamp the edge of the ablation cell
cover body 4. The third clamping portion 63 is further provided
with a thread adjusting portion 64 for adjusting its own position,
and the thread adjusting portion 64 is configured to allow the
third clamping portion 63 to approach and clamp the ablation cell
cover body 4 after the ablation cell cover body 4 is clamped, by
the first clamping portion 61 and the second clamping portion
62.
[0073] In operation, for example, the ablation cell cover body 4
may be first placed on the upper opening of the metal abutment 11,
and then pushed into the grooves of the first clamping portion 61
and the second clamping portion 62 to realize clamping, and then
the thread adjusting portion 64 may be rotated to allow the third
clamping portion 63 to approach and clamp the ablation cell cover
body 4, so as to realize final positioning.
[0074] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure, when a fluid inclusion sample is observed
microscopically (for example, under a microscope, such as by
microscopic petrography), light passes through the first through
hole 101 via the first light-transmitting glass sheet 102, and
irradiates the sample via the third through hole 21 of the
cryogenic stage 20 after passing through the second through hole
111. In this way, an operator may adjust the small-volume ablation
cell 3 to be positioned above the fluid inclusion components in the
sample by microscopically observing the fluid inclusion components
in the sample. When the sample is ablated by laser, the laser
passes through the fourth through hole 40 via the second
light-transmitting glass sheet 41, and is introduced to the surface
of the sample on the cryogenic stage 20 after passing through the
upper portion of the small-volume ablation cell 3, thereby
realizing sample ablation.
[0075] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure, the first through hole 101 has a diameter of for
example, about 6 cm (preferably 6 cm). The second through hole 111
has a diameter of, for example, about 6 cm (preferably 6 cm). The
cryogenic stage 20 is a silver cryogenic stage and has a diameter
of, for example, about 3 cm (preferably 3 cm). The third through
hole 21 has a diameter of, for example, about 0.5 cm (preferably
0.5 cm). The fourth through hole 40 has a diameter of, for example,
about 3 cm (preferably 3 cm). The small-volume ablation cell 3 has
a diameter of, for example, about 1 cm (preferably 1 cm). The fluid
inclusion sample is of a disc shape and has a diameter of, for
example, about 1 cm (preferably 1 cm).
[0076] In some embodiments, the metal abutment has a height of, for
example, about 1.5 cm, the cryogenic stage has a height of about
0.5 cm, and the small-volume ablation cell 3 has a height of about
0.8 cm. As an example, the fluid inclusion sample may be formed by
wrapping the fluid inclusion components with different host
minerals, and may be integrally machined (for example, by slicing
or grinding) into a disc shape in order to facilitate measurement.
In addition, a plurality of fluid inclusion samples (for example,
possibly with the diameter of 0.5 cm) may be directly placed into
the small-volume ablation cell 3 and measured at the same time. Or,
a standard (or referred to as a standard sample) and a fluid
inclusion sample may be placed at the same time for measurement, so
as to reduce the number of times for changing the sample and reduce
a position effect, which also facilitates the subsequent data
processing.
[0077] Compared with the prior art, the two-volume cryoablation
cell apparatus for LA-ICP-MS analysis of the fluid inclusion
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has
the following advantages. Firstly, since the design of the
two-volume ablation cell including the large-volume ablation cell
and the small-volume ablation cell is adopted, the apparatus may
adapt to the measurement of the fluid inclusion samples with
different sizes, showing better flexibility. Secondly, since the
volumes of the internal cavities of the large-volume and
small-volume ablation cells are somewhat reduced, the aerosols of
the fluid inclusion sample may be prevented from being diluted,
such that the aerosols of the fluid, inclusion sample may be
quickly transferred into the mass spectrometer as many as possible.
In addition, since the cryogenic freezing of the cryogenic stage
may freeze the fluid inclusion components, which are in a
gas/liquid form in the fluid inclusion sample, into a solid-phase
state, the loss of the fluid inclusion components due to cracking
of the host minerals may be avoided in the laser ablation process,
and moreover, the internal pressure of the fluid inclusion
components may be effectively reduced, thereby obtaining uniform
and stable sample signals about the fluid inclusion components in a
long term, which is convenient for later data processing.
[0078] An exemplary embodiment, of the present disclosure further
provides a two-volume cryoablation method for LA-ICP-MS analysis of
a fluid inclusion, in which the two-volume cryoablation cell
apparatus for LA-ICP-MS analysis of the fluid inclusion as provided
in the above embodiments is used. The method includes steps S100 to
S110.
[0079] In S100, a fluid inclusion sample is placed and fixed on the
cryogenic stage 20, and the ablation cell cover body 4 is buckled
on the upper opening of the metal abutment 11.
[0080] In S102, a position of the small-volume ablation cell 3 is
adjusted until the small-volume ablation cell 3 is located above
the cryogenic stage 20 and contacts the upper surface of the
sample.
[0081] In S104, light passes through the first through hole 101 via
the first light-transmitting glass sheet 102 to irradiate the
sample via the third through hole 21 of the cryogenic stage 20
after passing through the second through hole 111. The small-volume
ablation cell 3 is adjusted to be positioned above fluid inclusion
in the sample by microscopically (for example, under a microscope)
observing the fluid inclusion in the sample.
[0082] In S106, a helium gas is introduced through the first gas
inlet adapter 112, and is discharged via the first gas outlet
adapter 113 after passing through the second gas inlet adapter 30
and the second gas outlet adapter 31.
[0083] In S108, liquid nitrogen is introduced through the liquid
inlet adapter 114 and discharged via the liquid outlet adapter 115
after passing through the cryogenic stage 20.
[0084] In S110, laser passes through the fourth through hole 40 via
the second light-transmitting glass sheet 41 and is directed to the
upper surface, of the sample on the cryogenic stage 20 after
passing through the upper portion of the small-volume ablation cell
3 in order to ablate the sample.
[0085] Based on the teachings presented in the above descriptions
and the associated drawings, many modifications and other
embodiments of the present disclosure as set forth herein will
conic to the mind of those skilled in the art to which the present
disclosure pertains. Therefore, it is to be understood that
embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the
disclosed specific embodiments, and these modifications and other
embodiments are intended to be included, within the scope of the
present disclosure. In addition, although the above descriptions
and associated drawings illustrate the exemplary embodiments in the
context of certain exemplary combinations of components and/or
functions, it should be appreciated that alternative embodiments
can provide different combination forms of the components and/or
functions without departing from the scope of the present
invention. In this regard, for example, other combination forms of
the components and/or functions than those expressly described
above are also contemplated to be within the scope of the present
disclosure. Although specific terms are used herein, they are used
only in a generic and descriptive sense rather than in a
restrictive sense.
* * * * *