News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 28, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 7th July 2025? Check out new documents from the field of spectroscopy/spectrometry and related techniques!

👉 SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT SPECTROSCOPY/SPECTROMETRY RELATED TECHNIQUES

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This week we bring you brochure by Anton Paar, poster by Shimadzu / ASMS and application note by Thermo Fisher Scientific!

1. Anton Paar: Dynamic Shear Rheometers for Asphalt SmartPave

• Brochure
• Full PDF for download

The SmartPave brochure introduces a family of dynamic shear rheometers (DSR) – SmartPave 92, SmartPave 102e, and MCR 502e Power – specifically developed for the demanding rheological characterization of asphalt binders and bitumen. These instruments meet international standards such as AASHTO, ASTM, DIN EN, and others, and support a wide temperature range, enabling tests for routine quality control, research, and advanced performance grading.

Each SmartPave system is equipped with innovative features like EC motors for high-precision torque control, Toolmaster™ for automatic tool recognition, and TruRay™ sample illumination. The Peltier-based temperature control – with heating from both above and below – ensures fast, accurate, and stable temperature conditions without water circulation. This allows fully dry operation, which is particularly important for repeatable and noise-free measurements.

The brochure outlines various standard and advanced testing methods, such as Superpave PG grading (AASHTO T315), MSCR tests (AASHTO T350), viscosity measurements (ASTM D4402), and GTR-modified asphalt analysis. Advanced applications include DMA on solid asphalt, master curves, and low-temperature measurements down to –160 °C. The modular system supports multiple geometries including parallel-plate, cone-plate, and concentric-cylinder setups.

All systems operate with the RheoCompass® software, offering intuitive test design, automated calibration, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and customizable analysis. This makes SmartPave systems ideal for both routine lab use and advanced asphalt R&D, offering unmatched performance, ease of use, and compliance with global asphalt testing standards.

2. Shimadzu / ASMS: Arsenic Speciation in Rice and Rice Products using LC-ICP-MS: A Sensitive and Reliable Approach by Shimadzu 

• Poster
• Full PDF for download

Arsenic toxicity is a major public health concern, particularly in drinking water, leading to strict regulatory limits worldwide. While total arsenic has traditionally been measured, its toxicity largely depends on its chemical form with inorganic species Arsenite and Arsenate (As(III) and As(V)) being highly toxic and carcinogenic, and organic forms monosodium methyl arsenate (MMA) and disodium methyl arsenate (DMA) displayed in fig. 1, considered less harmful. Speciation analysis is therefore essential for accurate risk assessment. 

Rice and rice-based products are of particular concern, as rice can efficiently accumulate inorganic arsenic from the environment. In response, the European Union established maximum residue levels (MRLs) for inorganic arsenic in rice under Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1006, highlighting the need for precise speciation. 

To address this, advanced techniques like liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LC-ICPMS) are employed. LC-ICPMS provides high sensitivity and specificity for arsenic species determination, ensuring regulatory compliance and protecting consumer health. 

This study presents the effective use of Shimadzu’s LC-ICPMS-2050 LF system for arsenic speciation in rice and related products.

Methods and Materials

All standard stock solutions are prepared as specified in the LC-ICP-MS Method Package for Arsenic Speciation Analysis Type-2 by Shimadzu, Japan. Seven levels of mixed calibration standards are prepared and injected for the quantification of arsenic species. Calibration curves are generated using the external standard calibration method with a 1/l weighted regression. All samples are prepared in duplicate to verify method performance. Additionally, two spiked samples containing only inorganic arsenic standards are included to evaluate the extraction efficiency of the method. 

The Shimadzu ICPMS-2050 LF, coupled with the Nexera LC series (Fig. 2), manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation, Japan, is used to separate and quantify the different arsenic species present in the samples.

Conclusion 

• The extraction procedure employed effectively ensures the recovery of inorganic and organic arsenic species from various sample types, including both raw and processed materials. 
• A highly sensitive method based on hyphenated techniques, specifically LC-ICPMS, is developed for the speciation and quantification of arsenic using the Shimadzu ICPMS-2050 LF coupled with a Nexera inert LC system.

3. Thermo Fisher Scientific: EDXRF analysis of coal fly ash as loose powders Ling Yok Ung, Application Specialist

• Application note
• Full PDF for download

All the waste that remains after coal is burned, often in a coalfired power station, is referred to as coal ash. Coal ash may contain lead, mercury, arsenic and many other heavy metals. Fly ash and bottom ash are two subcategories of coal ash, typically separated based on particle size. 

More than half of coal leftovers are fly ash, the most abundant and well-known component. Particles of fly ash, the lightest type of coal ash, “fly” up into a power plant’s exhaust stacks because they are so light. About 99 % of the ash are captured by filters inside the stacks, which draw it in with opposing electrical charges. Fly ash can be recycled. The fine particles are a perfect material for wallboard and concrete because they bond together and solidify, especially when combined with water. 

But fly ash from coal is also a dangerous industrial solid waste. The natural environment and human health are seriously threatened by its excessive worldwide production, inappropriate disposal methods, underutilization, and lack of knowledge about its inherent risks. Therefore, a method that is quick, precise, and accurate, is required to quantify coal fly ash. Many companies use X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) as a preferred technology for process and quality control since it is a proven analytical approach that can accurately assess the chemical composition of materials with limited sample preparation.

Instrumentation 

The Thermo Scientific™ ARL™ QUANT’X EDXRF Spectrometer is equipped with a Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) and a 50 Watt Rh or Ag target X-ray tube which is air cooled with a maximum excitation v The Thermo Scientific™ ARL QUANT’X™ EDXRF Spectrometer is equipped with the following features: and radiation of heat in our atmosphere; N2 and O2 which are present in much higher concentrations do not have this same characteristic effect. Atmospheric CO2 levels increase the temperature of the surface of our planet, simultaneously excess CO2 is dissolved into the oceans gradually lowering the water’s pH, thus making the seas more acidic. 

• Silicon drift detector (SDD): The SDD remains the performance benchmark for all energy dispersive detectors. The large active area of 30 mm² enables effective capture of characteristic element X-rays emitted by the sample. 
• 50 W Rh or Ag target X-ray tube: Air-cooled with a maximum excitation voltage of 50 kV. 
• Nine primary beam filters: Designed to optimize the peak-to-background signals for all elements from F to Am. 
• 10-Position auto-sampler with spinner: Allows for unattended analysis of multiple samples.

Conclusion 

This application note shows the suitability of the ARL QUANT’X EDXRF Spectrometer for the analysis of coal fly ash samples. This compact instrument allows for reliable and fast analysis of coal fly ash. Accuracy and repeatability results show that satisfactory results are obtainable for an analysis of loose powder in vacuum. This is a significant advantage for simple sample preparation while providing good accuracy & precision.