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NBS TECHNICAL NOTE 1154

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/ National Bureau of Standards

A Programmable Sample Dryer

for Thermal Ionization

Mass Spectrometry

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.U5753

No. 115^

1982
NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

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'Headquarters and Laboratories at Gaithersburg, MD, unless otherwise noted; mailing address Washington, DC 20234. 'Some divisions within the center are located at Boulder, CO 80303.
A Programmable Sample Dryer for

Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry

John W. Gramlich and Ronald W. Shideler

Center lor Analytical Chemistry

National Measurement Laboratory

National Bureau ot Standards

Washington. DC 20234

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Malcolm Baldrige, Secretary

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler, Director

Issued January 1982
National Bureau of Standards Technical Note 1 154

Nai. Bur. Stand. (U.S.). lech. Note 1154. 19 pages (Jan. 1982) CODEN: NBINAE

U.S. GOVERNMUM PRIM INCi OEHCL

WASHING ION: 19X2
TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

1. Introduction 1

2. Electronic Circuit Operation 2

3. Construction 7

4. Calibration and Operation 7

5. References 13

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE NO. PAGE

1. Digital programminq section schematic 3

2. Analogue constant current section schematic 4

3. Personality card PC layout 5

4. Schematic, layout, and parts list for alarm 6

5. PC board for alarm 7

6. Chassis layout and parts list 8

7. Main PC board (front) 9

8. Main PC board (back) 10

9. Main circuit board layout and parts list 11

10. Sample dryer 12

11. Time ys^. resistance calibration plot 14

12. Current vs. resistance calibration plot 15

m

A PROGRAMMABLE SAMPLE DRYER FOR THERMAL IONIZATION MASS SPECTROMETRY

John W. Gramlich and Ronald W. Shideler

Center for Analytical Chemistry

National Measurement Laboratory

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, DC 20234

A sample dryer has been designed which allows reproducible

and automatic filament current and timing adjustments for up to

five separate steps. Designed around inexpensive TTL logic, the

dryer may be programmed by resistors on a plug-in card to provide

the proper drying conditions, be programmed to stop and signal

the operator after any step, or be allowed to continue uninterrupted through the entire drying seguence. A proqrammable

110 volt output is provided for controlling a heat lamp or other

accessory.

Key words: isotopic analysis; isotopic fractionation; sample

dryer; thermal ionization mass spectrometry.

1. Introduction

Samples for isotope ratio measurements by thermal ionization mass spectrometry are usually dried on a filament from a solution of a soluble salt before

insertion into the mass spectrometer. Frequently, the dryinq procedure

entails a sequence of drying times and temperatures. As in the case of the

analysis of lead, zinc, and cadmium by the silica gel method [1,2], it may be

necessary to add additional reagents to the filament at preset intervals

during the drying procedure.

The process of thermally ionizing an element from a hot filament causes a mass dependent fractionation jf the isotopic ratios. The rate and magnitude

of the isotonic fractionation is dependent, at least in part, upon the

che-^ical species present on the filament, and in the case of a multiple

filame'^t ion source, the molecular species resulting from vaporization of

the sample from the filament. The theoretical and empirical aspects of the

isotopic fractionation problem have been covered in some detail by Moore

et al . , [3]. The chemical species formed by drying a sample on a filament

can be quite complex. For example, it has been shown that calcium nitrate,

in a dilute nitric acid solution, produces a mixture of calcium rhenates when

dried on a rhenium filament [3]. These species include Ca2Re04, Ca3Re209,

CagRe20ii, and Ca5Re20i2-

Obtaining precise and accurate mass spectrometric isotope ratio measurements

requires that all samples (standards and unknowns) show the same rate and

degree of isotopic fractionation during the analysis. Only if this condition

is met, can unknown samples be compared with the standards and corrected to

absolute isotopic ratios, in those cases where standards of known absolute

isotopic composition are available. This condition of comparable isotopic
fractionation can be met only if the standards and unknov/ns are in the same chemical -Form on the filament.

It has been generally accepted for some time that variations in the drying

procedure between sample loadings can decrease the accuracy of mass spectrometric isotope ratio measurements, and most laboratories engaged in

this type of analysis make some attempt to reproduce the sample loading

procedure. However, the magnitude of the errors that can result from sample

loading variations is not fully appreciated. Uranium isotooic ratios, for

example, can be shifted by as much as 0.25 percent by small filament temperature differences during the sample loading. Errors of this magnitude are unacceptable for use in the accountability and safeguarding of nuclear

materials. Recent work in this laboratory [4,5] has indicated that

"state-of-the-art" isotope ratio measurements (i.e., 0.01 percent or less

uncertainty) for some elements reguire extremely close tolerances on sample

drying parameters. Such reproducibility is difficult, if not impossible, to

achieve manually.

The potential for errors attributable to sample loading variations is

esoecially great in high volume laboratories where several analysts, often

working in shifts, may each analyze parts of a suite of samples. The interanalyst data may show systematic biases, in addition to the random and intraanalyst variations. Automated sample drying can substantially reduce these

systematic biases, as well as minimize the variations inherent in manual

control of current settings and drying times.

The sample dryer, described herein, has been in operation on a daily basis in

the mass spectrometry laboratory. Inorganic Analytical Research Division,

for the past 4 years. Five such units are currently in operation and

have proven to be extremely trouble free and reproducible. They have con- tributed, not only to improved accuracy and precision, but also to

increased sample analysis output.

2. Electronic Circuit Operation

The electronic circuitry is comprised of a digital programming section

(figure 1) and an analogue constant filament power supoly (finure 2). The

digital programmer selects the proper current circuit, as well as the duration of the time interval for each current selected.

The diaital oroaranmer is made up of a single BCD counter (U6) with its

output state indicated by a seven segment LED. The output is also decoded

by a one-o-F-ten decoder (U5) which selects one of the five timed, current

active states or one of the four halt states. Programmina is accomplished

by means of a personality card (22 pin PC card, figure 3) with jumpers,

timing resistors, and current control resistors selected, to provide parameters tailored to the particular element being dried on the sample filament.

The state selected is routed by the personality card to produce the desired

functions. A halt state can be jumpered to allow continuation to the next

current active state, or when left open, sound an alarm and interrupt the

filament current. Resumption of operation, at the next current active state, occurs when the operator presses the start-continue button. When a current

active state is selected, one resistor is used to establish the filament
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current, while another resistor determines the time interval. The timing

resistors are individually connected to a +5 V source through an analogue

switch (U15, U16) to become the pull-up resistor of the 555 one-shot circuit

(Ull). The output of the one shot returns to the state counter, advancing

the state at the one-shot's time out. During the time interval defined for

a given state, the filament current is set by the current control resistor

selected. Each current control resistor is connected as one element of a voltage divider and is selected by means of one of five open collector TTL

gates (LI13, U2) when the selected output goes active low. The voltage level

established determines the filament set current.

Halt states are provided between each active state and are bypassed by

appropriate jumpers. When the halt state is entered, the signal is logically enabled by the presence of a jumper through one of the four gates

(U3). The output is collected through an or-gate (Ul) and used to trigger

the start-continue one shot (U4), which immediately advances the state

counter. This one shot is also activated by the start-continue push button.

The final aspect of the digital circuitry provides an auxiliary 110-Vac

output activated at any active state desired and selected by a jumper. One

or more jumpers enable the gates (U8, U16), which operate the solid state

relay when the selected state signal is present.

The analogue section of this device supplies a programmed constant current to

the filament being dried. The current that is supplied is proportional to

the voltage determined by the resistor on the personality card. This voltage

is applied to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier (U7). The

output of the operational amplifier drives transistor 01, whose output, in

turn, drives transistors 02 and 03 as a double emitter follower or "Darlington

circuit". The emitter outputs of 02 and 03 supply current to the filament

which is connected to ground through the current metering resistors R24 and

R25. The voltage developed across the metering resistors is returned to the

inverting input of the operational amplifier to complete the negative feedback loop. In this configuration, the operational amplifier maintains its

output voltage at the level necessary to drive the output transistors to source a current through the sample filament and metering resistors, providinq

a feedback voltage developed across the metering resistors that exactly

matches the programmed input voltage. Components R12, R5, and C9 are used to

insure stability of the circuit under various load and voltage conditions.
Power is supplied to this system by a transformer input and diode bridge

rectifier circuit. Unregulated power is used for the filament source current. A regulated +5 volt source (U18) supplies power to the TTL logic,

and a regulated +8 volts (U17) is used to drive the operational amplifier.

The alarm signal output from the main circuit board provides a continuous

high output from the U8 gate. This can be fed into an alarm circuit

(figure 4) to provide a one shot signal of a fixed duration. The length of

the audible signal can be adjusted by varying the value of R33 or C21 . The

RC time constant of R30 and C18 is sufficient to prevent triggering of the

555 one shot (Ull) when the unit advances automatically to the next active

state. The alarm circuit board (figure 5) is designed to mount directly on the terminals of the signal device.

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Figure 4. Schematic, layout, and parts list for alarm,

6
Figure 5. PC board for alarm.

Construction

The sample dryer can be contained in an inverted 12" x 7" x 3" aluminum

chassis box. The power supplies, controls, and high current components

are mounted on the chassis box (figure 6), while the remainder of the

circuitry is mounted on the main PC board (figures 7, and 8). The component layout for the main circuit board is given in figure 9. The main

circuit board is mounted on the side and near the top of the chassis, and is

attached by means of a 22-contact edge card receptacle soldered to the

board. Connections between the main circuit board and the chassis-mounted

components are provided through a 16-pin DIP socket, allowing for easy

removal of the board. Ground and +5 volt supply voltage to the TTL logic are provided through screw terminals on the board. The manual current

control (R28), filament sockets, and heat lamp assembly are attached to a 12" X 7" X 1/8" aluminum plate mounted on the chassis with 1/2" standoffs.

Figure 10 shows the positioning of these components. The standoffs provide

for air circulation under the plate to minimize the heating of the electronics by the lamp. The chassis-mounted phone jack allows monitoring of the

voltage across R24-R25, which is numerically equal to one-half of the

current through the filaments. Switch S7, mounted on the back of the

chassis, allows operation of the 110-Vac auxiliary output without entering

one of the current active states.

4. Calibration and Operation

Offset voltage nulling of the operational amplifier (U7) is accomplished

with a 100 Kn variable resistance (R13-R15),. connected across terminals 1 and 5, with the potentiometer slider arm connected to ground. The

offset voltage should be set to produce zero current at the filament when

the dryer is in a halt state.

If more than one sample dryer is in operation in a laboratory, it may be

desirable to have interchangeability of the personality cards among the

units. Potentiometer R6 can be used to adjust the voltage divider output to

the noninverting input of the operational amplifier to compensate for small

differences in the output voltage of the +5 volt regulators (U18) in the

different units. Through adjustment of R6, the five sample dryers in this

laboratory produce the same current (over the range of 0-2 A) to within 0.2
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Figure 6. Chassis layout and parts list.
Figure 7. Main PC board (front)
Figure 8. Main PC board (back)

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Figure 9. Main circuit board layout and parts list.

11
Figure IQ. Sample dryer.

12
percent from the same personality card. For multiple units, it is also

necessary to match the timing capacitor (Cll) of the 555 one shot to achieve

personality card interchangeability.

The relationship between the values of the timing resistors and the time of

the current active states is given in figure 11. The similar relationship

between the values of the current control resistors and the filament cur- rents is given in figure 12. For the most accurate settings, the dryer

should be calibrated with resistors of known value, rather than relying on figures 11 and 12.

Although the 110-Vac programmable output is most frequently used to control

a heat lamp used to aid the drying process, it can also be used to control

external temperature sensing instrumentation. One unit in this laboratory

is interfaced to a digital remote sensing infrared thermometer, capable of

monitoring the filament temperature in the range of 400 °C to 1650 °C. For

filament drying temperatures above 400 °C, the programmed 110-Vac output

allows the infrared thermometer to control the filament current by means of

an output control signal, proportional to the difference between the filament

temperature and a preset temperature. Timing of the high temperature

drying is still controlled by the personality card timing resistor for the

particular current active state.

5. References

[1] Barnes, I. L.; Murphy, T. J.; Gramlich, J. W. ; Shields, W. R. Lead

Separation by Anodic Deposition and Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry

of Microgram and Smaller Samples. Anal. Chem. 45: 1881-1884; 1973.

[2] Gramlich, J. W. ; Machlan, L. A.; Murphy, T. J.; Moore, L. J. The

Determination of Zinc, Cadmium, and Lead in Biological and Environmental Materials by Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry, in Trace

Substances in Environmental Health-XI , D. D. Hemphill, ed. University

of Missouri, Columbia; 1977. 376-380.

[3] Moore, L. J.; Heald, E. F. ; Filliben, J. J. An Isotopic Fractionation

Model for the Multiple Filament Thermal Ion Source. Advances in Mass

Spectrometry 7: 448-474; 1978.

[4] Dunstan, L. P.; Gramlich, J. W. ; Barnes, I. L. ; Purdy, W. C. Absolute

Isotopic Abundance and the Atomic Weight of a Reference Sample of

Thallium. J. Res. Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.). 85: 1-10; 1980.

[5] Powell, L. J.; Murphy, T. J.; Gramlich, J. W. The Absolute Isotopic

Abundance and Atomic Weight of a Reference Sample of Silver. J. Res.

Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.). Jan. -Feb. 1982.

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NBS-n4A (REV. 2-8C) U.S. DEPT. OF COMM. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

SHEET (See instructions)

1. PUBLICATION OR

REPORT NO.

NBS TN 1154

2. Performing Organ. Report No. 3. Publication Date January I982

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

A Programmable Sample Dryer for Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry

5. AUTHOR(S)

John W. Gramlich and Ronald W. Shideler

6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION (If joint or other thon NBS, see instructions) 7. Contract/Grant No. NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 8. Type of Report & Period Covered

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234

Final

9. SPONSORING ORGANIZATION NAME AND COMPLETE ADDRESS (Street. City. State. ZIP)

1 Same as above.

10. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

1^^ Document describes a computer program; SF-185, FIPS Software Summary, is attached.

11. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summary of most si gnificant information. If document includes a si gnificant

bi bliography or literature survey, mention it here)

A sample dryer has been designed which allows reproducible and automatic

filament current and timing adjustments for up to five separate steps.

Designed around inexpensive TTL logic, the dryer may be programmed by

resistors on a plug-in card to provide the proper drying conditions,

be programmed to stop and signal the operator after any step, or be allowed

to continue uninterrupted through the entire drying sequence. A programmable

110 volt output is provided for controlling a heat lamp or other accessory.

12. KEY WORDS (Six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only proper names; and separate key words by semicolons)

isotopic analysis; isotopic fractionation; sample dryer; thermal ionization

mass spectrometry.

13. AVAILABILITY

[X;] Unlimited

Q For Official Distribution. Do Not Release to NTIS

' ^ Order From Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D C

20402.

[V] Order From National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Springfield, VA 22161

14. NO. OF

PRINTED PAGES

19

15. Price

^^^^MM^^60^-^0l
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