News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 37, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 8th September 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

👉 Need info about different analytical techniques? Peek into LabRulezLCMS or LabRulezGCMS libraries.

This week we bring you brochure by Agilent Technologies, other document by Shimadzu and poster by Thermo Fisher Scientific!

1. Agilent Technologies: Consumable Solutions for Semiconductor Analysis

• Brochure
• Full PDF for download

Since the late 1980s, Agilent has worked closely with semiconductor manufacturers and chemical suppliers to advance analytical technologies that support the entire semiconductor supply chain. With instruments such as ICP-MS, ICP-QQQ, GC/MS, and LC/MS, Agilent provides reliable methods for process monitoring, raw material quality control, detection of inorganic and organic impurities, nanoparticle analysis, and compliance with environmental and safety standards.

A critical aspect of semiconductor manufacturing is the use of electronic wet chemicals, which must achieve ultra-high purity levels to prevent contamination. These chemicals include general-purpose acids, bases, and solvents, as well as functional reagents like photoresists, etching solutions, and cleaning agents. To ensure accurate impurity detection in these materials, Agilent offers a comprehensive range of consumables designed specifically for ICP-MS and ICP-QQQ systems.

The portfolio covers configurations optimized for different chemical environments, including inorganic aqueous reagents, hydrofluoric acid–compatible materials, organic solvent testing, and silicon wafer vapor phase decomposition (VPD). Consumables such as nebulizers, spray chambers, torches, sampler and skimmer cones, and inert sample introduction kits are tailored to withstand aggressive acids, volatile solvents, and high-matrix samples. These solutions not only ensure reliable results but also extend instrument life and minimize downtime.

Beyond sample introduction, Agilent provides essential general supplies such as high-purity argon gas filters, waste container kits, cleaning tools, and tuning solutions. Together, these consumables support the robustness and consistency of semiconductor impurity testing workflows, enabling manufacturers to maintain yield and quality in one of the most contamination-sensitive industries.

2. Shimadzu: Perform Microplastics Analysis More Quickly and Accurately

• Other Document
• Full PDF for download

Shimadzu has introduced new options for the AIMsight™ infrared microscope and the AIRsight™ infrared/Raman microscope, designed to improve the speed and accuracy of microplastics and contaminant analysis. By adding the new Particle Analysis Program to AMsolution software, users can automatically measure the size, mass, and volume of multiple particles and easily visualize the results through graphs and tables.

The program calculates particle dimensions such as major and minor axes, while also estimating mass and volume using a validated theoretical formula based on recent research from Ehime University. This allows laboratories to determine microplastic mass concentrations with high accuracy, a significant improvement over traditional methods. Statistical data, including component ratios and histograms, can be output directly or exported in CSV format, while customizable analysis conditions allow exclusion of unwanted particle types like fibers.

To further enhance measurement reliability, Shimadzu offers a Particle Filter (PF) Holder. This accessory secures PTFE or stainless steel membrane filters to prevent sagging during drying, keeping the surface level and ensuring more precise focusing and particle detection.

Together, the AIMsight and AIRsight microscopes, combined with the Particle Analysis Program and PF Holder, provide laboratories with a powerful, automated solution for high-throughput, reproducible microplastics research and contaminant monitoring.

3. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Analysis of whole blood samples using triple quadrupole inductivity coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

• Poster
• Full PDF for download

Elemental analysis of blood is essential for clinical research, toxicology, and occupational health studies. While some elements are required for biological function, others can pose health risks when present even at trace levels. Because blood is a complex matrix rich in salts and biomolecules, it presents significant challenges for accurate and reproducible analysis. Triple quadrupole ICP-MS is particularly well suited for this task, offering high sensitivity, robust interference removal, and wide dynamic range.

In this study, researchers applied the Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ MTX ICP-MS equipped with an iSC-65 Autosampler and operated using Qtegra™ ISDS software. Whole blood samples were diluted 50-fold and analyzed for 43 elements ranging from lithium to uranium. By combining He KED mode with TQ-O₂ mass-shift reactions, the method effectively removed spectral interferences, enabling accurate detection across eight orders of magnitude—from sub-ng/L levels up to 50 mg/L.

Performance testing demonstrated excellent accuracy, with results closely matching certified reference materials for whole blood. The setup also showed outstanding robustness, sustaining more than 15 hours of continuous acquisition for 287 samples with minimal drift. The Step Ahead feature of the autosampler reduced analysis time by 9%, while the humidifier and interface maintenance hardware improved stability and minimized downtime. Notably, after over 1,000 sample injections, the sampler and skimmer cones remained clean, underlining the durability of the system.

The study also compared human, horse, and pig blood, revealing significant differences in elemental composition between species. These findings highlight the potential of triple quadrupole ICP-MS to accelerate large-scale studies on biological variation and exposure assessment. Together, the iCAP MTX ICP-MS and iSC-65 Autosampler provide a powerful, high-throughput solution for multi-element analysis in one of the most challenging sample types: whole blood.