News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 34, 2026

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 17th August 2026? Check out new documents from the field of spectroscopy/spectrometry and related techniques!

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This week we bring you application notes by Agilent Technologies, Metrohm, and Shimadzu and other document by Thermo Fisher Scientific!

1. Agilent Technologies: Direct Analysis of Seawater Using ICP-QQQ and Integrated Advanced Valve System

Fast, robust environmental analyses using an Agilent 9500 ICP-QQQ with AVS MS 

• Application note
• Full PDF for download 

Trace elements in seawater play a vital role in marine biogeochemical cycles, influencing ocean productivity, ecosystem health, and global climate regulation.1,2 Although present at extremely low concentrations, many trace elements are essential for biological processes, while others, including heavy metals, serve as indicators of contamination from industrial activities and coastal development. Accurate determination of a wide range of elements is therefore critical for environmental monitoring, oceanographic research, and regulatory compliance. EPA Method 200.8 provides a widely adopted quality control (QC) framework for trace metal analysis in natural waters.3 However, seawater’s high salinity and major components such as Na, Mg, Cl, and S create analytical challenges for conventional ICP-MS analysis, including ionization suppression and polyatomic interferences, such as ArCl+ on As, ArNa+ on Cu, SO2 + on Zn. Overcoming these issues requires advanced interference removal techniques and high sensitivity. Triple quadrupole ICP-MS (ICP-QQQ) addresses these limitations through its MS/MS configuration.

Agilent ICP-MS/MS methods precisely control reaction chemistry and eliminate interferences, ensuring accurate quantification in complex saline matrices. 

The Agilent 9500 Triple Quadrupole ICP-MS with its unique Dual-Cell System (DCS) enables accurate, efficient seawater analysis using enhanced collision/reaction cell (CRC) technologies. Its performance is primarily driven by Advanced Helium Mode (AHM). This advanced collision mode delivers exceptional on-mass interference removal using a combination of Kinetic Energy Discrimination (KED) and Collision Induced Dissociation (CID), ensuring precise quantification even in highly saline and complex matrices.4 Additionally, Air cell mode enables fast, effective mass-shift reactions, adding flexibility for overcoming challenging interferences.5 By seamlessly integrating AHM with Air cell mode, the 9500 simplifies workflows and delivers reliable results for trace analysis of multiple elements in seawater.

 In this study, a 9500 ICP-QQQ fitted with the AVS MS was used to quantify 26 elements in two seawater certified reference materials (CRMs) and a sample collected in Singapore, employing an online reverse-dilution approach. The method was assessed following the performance requirements of EPA Method 200.8.

Conclusion 

Traditional seawater analysis by ICP‑MS often requires extensive sample preparation, such as dilution and matrix separation, to address high salinity and complex matrix effects. These additional steps increase both turnaround time and contamination risk. The method developed here enables direct seawater analysis using an online reverse-dilution approach, eliminating manual preparation and enabling rapid, high-throughput processing. Using the Agilent 9500 ICP-QQQ with AVS MS in online dilution mode, the workflow achieved ppt-level MDLs for 26 elements, excellent accuracy (90–110% recoveries for CRMs and spiked samples), and long-term stability across more than 130 analyses, meeting EPA Method 200.8 QC requirements. 

Key advantages of the 9500 ICP-QQQ method: 

• Effective interference removal: Advanced gas modes (AHM and Air cell mode) controlled polyatomic species originating from the high-salinity matrices. 
• High throughput: Automated online dilution and seamless gas-switching enabled complete analysis in 140 seconds per sample. 
• Robust stability: Optimized rinse protocols ensured consistent ISTD recovery and instrument performance over a seven-hour run comprising 100 injections of undiluted seawater samples. 

This workflow delivers fast, reliable, and high-quality seawater analysis, making it ideal for environmental monitoring and marine research laboratories seeking maximum efficiency without compromising data integrity.

2. Metrohm: Moisture and protein content in corn starch with NIR spectroscopy

Easily measure the quality of corn starch in seconds with NIR

• Application note
• Full PDF for download

Starch is a fundamental component in candy production where it is often used as a gelling agent and thickener. The confectionery industry uses it to create products with a certain consistency, like pie fillings. It is also used in a process known as starch molding where shapes are pressed into a corn starch bed for gummy candies and similar treats. Corn starch also acts as a desiccant during the candies' drying process before reuse. Therefore, the corn starch moisture content is a very important factor to consider in this process. 

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a fast, chemicalfree analysis technique for the determination of moisture content and corn protein content in corn starch. The NIRS solution is easy to use and can be used either atline or in a quality control laboratory.

EXPERIMENTAL EQUIPMENT 

210 samples of corn starch were measured with an OMNIS NIR Analyzer Solid (Figure 1). All measurements were performed in reflection mode (1000–2250 nm) using a large holder and large cup (Table 1). OMNIS Software was used for all data acquisition and prediction model development. Karl Fischer titration was used to determine the water content in corn starch, and the Kjeldahl method was used to determine its protein content.

CONCLUSION

This Application Note shows the feasibility of using near-infrared spectroscopy for the determination of moisture and protein content in corn starch. Compared to the conventional analysis techniques used to determine these quality parameters, NIRS saves a considerable amount of time and costs. With NIR spectroscopy, analyses can be conducted without using any chemical reagents, giving users reliable results in seconds.

3. Shimadzu: Observation of Crack Propagation Process in Aluminum Alloy Specimen Using Air-Servo Microfocus X-Ray CT System

• Application note
• Full PDF for download

User benefits

• The Air-Servo Microfocus X-Ray CT System enables observation of crack propagation in three dimensions and over time.
• Microfocus X-Ray CT system enables nondestructive observation of the interior of materials.
• High-precision dynamic control is possible with the Servo Controller 4830.

Many structural failures are caused by fatigue failure resulting from repeated loading. In fatigue failure, cracks initiate from microdefects in the material, internal voids, inclusions, and other features, and then propagate under repeated loading until final fracture occurs. To evaluate this sequence of processes, it is effective to observe defects and crack propagation nondestructively. 

Traditionally, crack observation has focused on visual inspection and microscopic observation, but these methods are limited to information near the surface. To sufficiently capture the threedimensional shape and changes in cracks propagating inside a material, observation of the fractured specimen after failure has generally been used. In contrast, X-ray CT can nondestructively visualize internal defects and cracks in three dimensions, making it possible to evaluate in detail changes in crack morphology, including in the interior. 

Accordingly, using the “Air-Servo Microfocus X-Ray CT System,” which combines X-ray CT with a fatigue testing machine, repeated tests were performed in which loading was stopped at fixed cycle intervals and imaging was carried out. This article introduces the resulting process of crack initiation and propagation in the same specimen.

Conclusion

Using the Air-Servo Microfocus X-Ray CT System, cracks propagating from the notch region of an aluminum alloy specimen were observed. First, static tests and fatigue tests were performed using the servo pulser EHF-LV, and a S-N diagram was obtained. Based on the obtained S-N diagram, the fatigue test conditions for the Air-Servo Microfocus X-Ray CT System were determined, and X-ray CT imaging was performed. The process of crack propagation according to the number of cycles was observed in cross-sectional images and 3D images. In addition, by visualizing the displacement from a specific cycle onward, it was also confirmed that the specimen necked down just before fracture. 

Using the measurement system introduced in this article, it is possible to observe changes in specimen shape over time while the specimen remains mounted in the jig. Therefore, not only the crack propagation process of a specimen during fatigue testing, but also material deformation behavior and the process of shape change can be observed.

4. Thermo Fisher Scientific: IonicX Portable XRF Analyzer Device and Algorithm

A detailed look into the algorithm used to authenticate ionic salts

• Other document
• Full PDF for download

The Thermo Scientific™ IonicX™ Portable XRF Analyzer utilizes Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (ED XRF) spectrometry to confidently differentiate between different chemical samples based on their atomic structure and the average atomic weight of the sample. The basic elements of XRF spectrometer systems include a radiation source, a sample, and an X-ray detector. The analysis relies on the interaction of radiation source output (an X-ray source) with a sample, in this case, the cup of ionic salt material, such as Sodium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide or other chemicals and salts. The XRF system can characterize materials, due to the fundamental principle that each element has a unique atomic structure, which in turn has a unique set of peaks (x-ray lines) in its emission spectrum. The energy dispersive X-ray detector separates (disperses) the detected radiation emitted from the sample by energy, thus providing a spectrum from which the different elements present in the sample can be identified and/ or quantified.

Algorithm 

Handheld XRF devices often cannot detect elements lighter than Magnesium by their fluorescence lines, however many compounds contain elements of interest such as Oxygen and Hydrogen. Additionally, relying solely on primary fluorescence peaks to identify target compounds can lead to misinterpretation. For instance, if MgO and NaCl are present in a 1:1 mixture, the resulting XRF spectrum would display distinct characteristic Mg and Cl peaks. However, the sample would not actually be the spectrum of MgCl₂, as the analytical response of Mg and Cl would be very different in both samples because of a dilution effect and absorption from Na and O atoms. The XRF process can easily differentiate samples with similar elemental constituents but with different chemical structures by analyzing the resulting scatter from the sample and comparing the full spectrum to a calibration library of compounds. Figure 4 shows XRF spectra of Sodium Chlorate (NaClO₃) and Sodium Perchlorate (NaClO₄) taken with the IonicX XRF instrument. In this example, only the Cl fluorescence peak can be detected by the IonicX device as Na and O fluorescence X-rays have energies that are too weak to be detected. However, when the spectrum is normalized, in this case to the primary Compton peak of Ag Kα, a slight but distinguishable difference can be seen in the spectral intensity between the energies of 25 keV and 40 keV. The difference in the scatter of the X-ray tube Bremsstrahlung is caused by differences in mass absorption coefficients of the presented samples, in this case it is the extra O atom in the NaClO₄ molecule vs the NaClO₃ molecule.

Summary 

The IonicX Portable XRF Analyzer is a powerful addition for the verification of ionic salt type chemicals, utilizing XRF technology in a versatile, easy to use, small form factor. IonicX provides clear, easy to understand, unambiguous results and tools to assist with compliance and data integrity. IonicX is a robust verification tool which allows pharmaceutical companies to more efficiently verify incoming chemicals that typically have been tested using lengthy wet-chemistry techniques.