Micrometer-resolved binding of lead to iron in urban river sediments

Journal article, 2004

Recent developments in laser microprobes and the coupling of laser ablation (LA) to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has opened up the possibility for detailed analysis of individual sediment grains and the elucidation of metal association with bulk elements and phases. Here, LA–ICP-MS is used for the micrometer-resolved, multi-element analysis of Pb and bulk elements such as Fe, Mg, Al, and Si. Normalized Pb signals show a clear association to Fe coatings at the surface of the particles.