Mysak attends workshop on laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry workshop in Chicago

View of Chicago skyline from the Field Museum
June 3, 2015

The Seventh Users’ Group for Mass Spectrometry and Chromatography (MaSC) Workshop and Meeting was held at The Art Institute of Chicago, Northwestern University, the Field Museum, and Agilent Technologies in Chicago, Illinois May 17th-May 22nd, 2015. The theme of the workshop was the application of inorganic and isotope ratio mass spectrometry techniques for the study of isotopes and trace elements in art and archaeology. During the workshop, IPCH’s Dr. Erin Mysak learned about inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), the use of laser ablation as a sampling tool for ICP-MS,  and related isotope ratio mass spectrometry methods - such as thermal ionization mass spectrometry – for the characterization of diverse materials including metals, glass, ceramics, minerals and pigments. The Technical Studies Laboratory hopes to make use of these techniques in several of their upcoming projects.