Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 21st July 2025? Check out new documents from the field of spectroscopy/spectrometry and related techniques!<blockquote>👉 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library">SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT SPECTROSCOPY/SPECTROMETRY RELATED TECHNIQUES</a></blockquote><blockquote>👉 Need info about different analytical techniques? Peek into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezLCMS</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezGCMS</a> libraries.</blockquote>This week we bring you brochures by Anton Paar and Shimadzu, technical note by Agilent Technologies and application note by Metrohm!<h3>1. Anton Paar: Solutions for Optimizing Wafer Production</h3><ul><li>Brochure</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/XPAIP_165_EN_E_Brochure_Semiconductors_screen_440d73aa19.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Anton Paar offers a comprehensive portfolio of analytical tools designed to enhance every step of semiconductor wafer production—from thin film characterization to cleaning, etching, planarization, and packaging. Their instruments ensure mechanical, chemical, and electrostatic parameters are precisely controlled, resulting in more reliable and efficient processes.Key technologies include mechanical surface characterization systems (e.g., nanoindentation and scratch testing) to assess thin film hardness and adhesion, as well as zeta potential and particle size analyzers for optimizing slurry behavior during CMP. Their DMA and sound velocity meters accurately determine acid concentrations for etching and cleaning processes, while refractometers and inline sensors ensure consistent cleaning quality and real-time monitoring of process slurries.Advanced techniques such as SAXS/GISAXS provide nanostructural insight into thin film coatings, and microwave digestion supports trace elemental analysis. With a global service network and long-term support programs, Anton Paar ensures uptime and precision across critical semiconductor applications.<h3>2. Agilent Technologies: Maximize Your ICP-OES Instrument Performance and Uptime&nbsp;</h3>A guide to maintenance of ICP-OES instruments to help you achieve the best analytical performance<ul><li>Technical note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/technicaloverview_ICP_OES_guide_5994_0859_EN_agilent_e0e1fd55e8.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Agilent Technologies commissioned an independent global survey of laboratory managers with the primary objective being to understand laboratory and instrumental "pain points" and develop strategies for addressing any concerns. A secondary goal was to uncover key differences faced by these laboratory managers with respect to instrument operation. The survey, performed by Frost &amp; Sullivan, involved 700 people across four countries: Germany, the UK, the USA and China; and the individuals surveyed varied with respect to experience, company size, role and primary function.&nbsp;What became evident from the survey is that most users want to reduce maintenance and downtime, and improve overall workflow in the laboratory. Consequently, this article will outline some tips that can help maximize ICP-OES performance and address common challenges faced in the laboratory.<h4>Prevent nebulizer blockage&nbsp;</h4>How can you reduce or prevent nebulizer blockage? Remember, when dealing with sample nebulization, flows are usually relatively low. The fine capillary that carries the sample into the spray chamber has limited tolerance to undissolved solids and large particles. So, when running challenging samples there is a high risk of both annulus and nebulizer capillary blockage, leading to sensitivity problems. What can be done about this? First, and most crucially, make sure that the sample introduction system is rinsed with a suitable reagent blank before extinguishing the plasma. This will prevent any deposition taking place in the nebulizer itself. Second, consider your sample preparation strategies: filtering or centrifuging samples to remove particulates can help prevent nebulizer blockage. For challenging samples, the use of autosampler enclosures can also help prevent dust or dirt being transferred into samples whilst they are in storage and waiting for analysis. In addition, adjusting the autosampler probe height so that sampling occurs above any dissolved solid or precipitate can help reduce the chance of nebulizer blockage. The key word to remember is "prevention".&nbsp;Another approach to reduce the chance of nebulizer blockage, particularly with challenging samples, is to use an argon humidifier accessory (Figure 1, right). The fine tubes inside the bottle are actually a permeable membrane. By filling the bottle with deionized water, the permeable membrane allows water to humidify the nebulizer gas. A moist nebulizer gas flowing through the nebulizer can help to reduce the chance of blockage due to salt build up and consequently reduce the amount of drift. Figure 1 (left) also shows an example of a challenging sample: 25% sodium chloride for over four hours with continuous aspiration – using a sample introduction system that is suitable for high-dissolved solids, including the argon humidifier accessory. Long-term stability with &lt;2.5% precision over that full period of the test is achieved. A third approach is to review the nebulizer being used. The glass concentric nebulizer is the most common and while this offers good sensitivity, it is not ideal for samples with high TDS levels or large particles. For a challenging matrix, you can reduce blockages by selecting an alternate nebulizer. Agilent provides a selection tool that can recommend the best nebulizer for your application.&nbsp;A fourth approach to reduce or prevent nebulizer blockage is to filter samples prior to analysis. Of course, most users should adopt this approach, but many prefer not to do so because it impacts on productivity. However, this approach is highly recommended. By way of example, Figure 2 shows the Agilent Captiva syringe filters need only four steps to realize the full benefits of filtration.<h4>Clean your sample introduction system&nbsp;</h4>How are those other critical components in the sample introduction system of the ICP-OES cleaned and maintained? The first component to consider is the spray chamber. The glass cyclonic spray chamber is probably the most common type of spray chamber in use today on an ICP-OES system; in most cases, it will work efficiently, but over time droplets can build up on the walls of the spray chamber (Figure 3). In such an instance, the spray chamber needs to be cleaned immediately, as the droplet formation will affect precision. The best approach for cleaning the spray chamber is to soak it overnight (preferably for 24 hours) in a 25% detergent solution (Triton X-100, Decon, Fluka RBS 25 will all clean effectively). After cleaning, the spray chamber should be rinsed and returned to the instrument ready for the next&nbsp;analysis.The next component to consider is the torch for the ICP-OES instrument. To clean the torch of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=1&amp;search=ICP-OES+5000+series">Agilent 5000 Series ICP-OES</a> instrument, the outer tube should be soaked in aqua regia (mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid) for one&nbsp;hour – Agilent offers a very convenient cleaning stand for this purpose. After cleaning, both the inside and outside of the torch should be rinsed with de-ionized water and compressed gas (air, nitrogen or argon) pumped through the three gas supply ports to remove any remaining liquid.For older systems, such as the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=1&amp;search=ICP-OES+700+series">Agilent 700 Series ICP-OES</a> instrument, the process is virtually the same, except that the torch should be soaked overnight to remove any deposition that has taken place. Again, after cleaning it should be rinsed thoroughly to remove any remaining liquid and then, importantly, dried carefully before being returned to the instrument. On the 700 Series ICP-OES instruments the torch needs to be positioned manually, so after placing the torch into the torch holder the setting should be checked – the distance between the RF coil and the intermediate tube should be between 2 to 3 mm. This will ensure the correct location for efficient plasma formation and efficient sample excitation. The torch alignment routine also provides a means to verify that the torch is in the correct location – this routine allows both the vertical and horizontal positioning of the torch to be set, ensuring that the instrument is looking at the highest intensity region from the torch (Figure 4). This can also be a very useful way to do a quick performance check on the instrument because the maximum intensity should be consistent from day-to-day. Any changes in the intensity readings for the sample provides an indication that there is a potential blockage somewhere else in the instrument. Similarly, the ideal settings for the horizontal and vertical position of the torch should also remain fairly consistent and, again, sudden changes in these could indicate another issue with the torch.<h4>Summary&nbsp;</h4>This overview summarizes some of the challenges that you may be facing in your laboratory. We have highlighted how most of the potential causes for failure or unplanned downtime in your laboratory can be traced back to issues in the sample introduction system. So by focusing your maintenance in the sample introduction area, you can reduce that risk of unplanned downtime. We have also included some guidelines and maintenance procedures that you can use to set up standard operating procedures in your laboratory which will help prevent these types of issues from&nbsp;reoccurring.<h3>3. Metrohm: Trace detection of mercaptans in fuel&nbsp;</h3>Safe, rapid detection of mercaptans with Raman spectroscopy<ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_rs_050_download_66f3189db1.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Mercaptans are organic sulfur compounds with the general formula R–SH. They naturally occur in crude oil and cannot be effectively removed through the distillation process [1,2]. Elevated concentrations of mercaptans are corrosive and can reduce the thermal stability of fuels, leading to problems with engine health, performance, and increased pollution. Consequently, ASTM D1655 sets the maximum allowable concentration of mercaptans in jet fuel at 30 mg/L (ppm) [3].&nbsp;Mercaptans are Raman active and at high concentrations they can be identified and quantified by analyzing their Raman spectra. However, the trace amounts of mercaptans found in fuels are generally below the limit of detection (LOD) of standard Raman spectroscopy. To overcome this limitation, SurfaceEnhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) can be employed, which significantly enhances the Raman signal and enables the detection and quantification of mercaptans at trace levels.<h4>CURRENT METHODS FOR MERCAPTAN ANALYSIS</h4>Standard methods such as potentiometric titration (ASTM D3227), ultraviolet fluorescence (ASTM D5453), gas chromatography (GC), and highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) are used to quantify low concentrations of mercaptans. However, these methods are time consuming and costly, require skilled personnel that can perform complex procedures, and generate chemical waste. Conversely, Raman spectroscopy is an easy to use, cost-effective analytical technique with quick results.<h4>MERCAPTAN ANALYSIS WITH SERS</h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=56&amp;search=SERS">SERS</a> (Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering) is ideal for trace materials below the LOD of traditional Raman spectroscopy, such as mercaptans found in fuels. SERS amplifies the Raman signal of molecules bound to nanoparticles through electromagnetic field enhancement generated from the excitation lasernanoparticle interaction. This enhanced signal exceeds the sensitivity of standard Raman techniques and enables rapid identification and quantification of trace amounts of chemicals. Additionally, SERS requires minimal training, it uses very small sample volumes (typically less than 20 μL), and it improves safety by minimizing exposure risks and waste disposal concerns.<h4>CONCLUSION</h4>Coupling <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=56&amp;search=MIRA+XTR">MIRA XTR</a> with Ag P-SERS substrates permits detection of trace mercaptan concentrations down to 0.05 ppm (50 ppb). This very low detection limit exceeds that of traditional methods and enables detection of mercaptan concentrations well below the ASTM standard [3]. A simple, fast analysis with SERS provides a safe, efficient, and highly sensitive solution for mercaptan analysis in complex fuel matrices.<h3>4. Shimadzu: Precision Universal Testing Machines AUTOGRAPH AGS-X2 Series&nbsp;</h3><ul><li>Brochure</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/c224_e129_8bc3f3c304.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>The Shimadzu AUTOGRAPH AGS-X2 Series is a high-performance line of universal testing machines engineered for accurate, reliable, and user-friendly materials testing across a broad range of industries. Designed for both research and quality control, it supports tensile, compression, bending, and cyclic testing, while offering advanced automation and safety features.Key advantages include high-speed sampling (1 ms), a wide load range with ±0.5% accuracy, and intuitive TRAPEZIUM X-V software for streamlined test management and analysis. Enhanced usability features include touch-operated stroke limiters, dual emergency-stop switches, and versatile grips and jigs for different materials like plastics, metals, and composites.Optional extensometers (digital video, strain gauge, and automatic types), temperature chambers, and accessories enable compliance with global testing standards (ISO, ASTM, JIS). Whether for metals, CFRPs, plastics, or soft materials, the AGS-X2 Series delivers high-precision mechanical characterization in a robust, modular system built for evolving laboratory needs.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 30, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 28th July 2025? Check out new documents from the field of spectroscopy/spectrometry and related techniques!<blockquote>👉 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library">SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT SPECTROSCOPY/SPECTROMETRY RELATED TECHNIQUES</a></blockquote><blockquote>👉 Need info about different analytical techniques? Peek into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezLCMS</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezGCMS</a> libraries.</blockquote>This week we bring you brochure by Anton Paar and application notes by Agilent Technologies, Metrohm, Shimadzu and Thermo Fisher Scientific!<h3>1. Anton Paar: Solutions from Upstream to Downstream</h3><ul><li>Brochure</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/XPAIP_159_EN_D_Brochure_Petroleum_Industry_screen_6548668eb5.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Anton Paar offers a comprehensive portfolio of high-precision analytical instruments for the petroleum industry, supporting the entire value chain from upstream exploration to downstream refining and testing. Their technologies help optimize key processes such as crude oil extraction, fuel formulation, lubricant development, asphalt quality control, and product certification. With a focus on automation, speed, safety, and compliance, the company enables more efficient, sustainable, and standardized workflows.In upstream operations, Anton Paar solutions support the evaluation of crude oil properties, aiding decisions on drilling strategy, reservoir yield, and transport readiness. Measurements such as density, viscosity, and rheological behavior under various temperature and pressure conditions help optimize extraction potential and simulate real reservoir conditions. These tools are essential for enhancing recovery rates and minimizing costs.In refineries, their instruments streamline fuel, lubricant, and asphalt testing through automated and robust measurement platforms. For fuels, Anton Paar enables precise determinations of flash points, distillation ranges, oxidation stability, and cold flow behavior. In lubricant production, their analyzers assess viscosity, consistency, and elemental contamination. Asphalt and bitumen analysis includes penetration, softening point, density, and rheology measurements to ensure long-term durability and regulatory compliance.Finally, Anton Paar supports midstream logistics and third-party testing labs with tools for product identification, contamination checks, and custody transfer verification. Their automated, digital systems enhance data integrity and traceability while minimizing operator intervention. Whether for on-site process control or independent quality assessment, Anton Paar delivers trusted solutions to maximize performance and reduce risk across the petroleum sector.<h3>2. Agilent Technologies: Accurate Elemental Analysis of Drinking Water per Bureau of Indian Standards by ICP-MS&nbsp;</h3>Fast, simple, compliant method using an Agilent <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=7850+ICP-MS">7850 ICP-MS </a>and SPS 4 Autosampler<ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_drinking_water_bureau_indian_standards_icp_ms_5994_8402en_agilent_7496f27986.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>The provision of clean and safe drinking water from a dependable, uncontaminated supply is essential for public health. However, many freshwater sources are compromised by pollutants from domestic and industrial wastewater, as well as activities related to agriculture, mining, forestry, and construction. These contaminants can pose significant risks to human health. In recent years, heavy metals and other toxic elements have received significant attention in environmental investigations. In response to growing concerns about food and water safety, regulatory authorities in India, such as the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), have established stringent regulations for drinking water analysis to ensure consumer safety.Laboratories in India use various analytical techniques, including Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), to analyze drinking water. The choice of technique often depends on the number of elements and the concentration range required for the analysis. With the inclusion of uranium in the list of elements specified by BIS regulations, and to ensure preparedness for future updates, ICP-MS is increasingly favored for water analyses. Advantages of ICP-MS include its high sensitivity, low detection limits, wide elemental coverage, and fast, multielement capabilities.The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=7850+ICP-MS">Agilent 7850 ICP-MS</a> provides drinking water testing laboratories with a comprehensive solution for analyzing multiple elements—including uranium—in drinking water, thereby fulfilling BIS mandatory requirements. A preset method assists the accurate and precise determination of 26 elements, including all 21 elements specified in the standards, in a quick, single run, enabling high sample throughput.&nbsp;The 7850 ICP-MS uses Octopole Reaction System (ORS4 ) technology and optimized helium (He) collision mode to remove polyatomic ion interferences in routine applications.2 He mode effectively separates polyatomic ions from analyte ions based on their kinetic energies. As polyatomic ions pass through the ORS4 containing helium gas, they collide more frequently with helium atoms due to their larger collision cross-sections than smaller analyte ions, losing more energy. Upon exiting the cell, the lower-energy polyatomic ions are rejected using kinetic energy discrimination (KED). Meanwhile, analyte ions retain sufficient energy to pass through the KED barrier to the quadrupole and detector. This process removes polyatomic ions from the ion beam, enabling more accurate results for all analytes using a single gas mode.<h4>Results and discussion&nbsp;</h4><h5>Detection limits&nbsp;</h5>During method development, data was collected for all 26 elements. The Instrument Detection Limits (IDLs) were calculated from the calibration graphs (3 x standard deviation (SD) of the concentration of calibration blanks), while the dilution-adjusted DLs take account of the dilution factor of 1.25x. The DLs reported in Table 2 are well below the maximum permissible limits (MPLs) specified in the three BIS standards, confirming the suitability of the 7850 ICP-MS for the determination of trace elements in drinking water.<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>The Agilent 7850 ICP-MS successfully measured 26 elements in bottled and tap water samples using a single He KED method for all elements. This method adhered to the detection limits and QC requirements defined by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS 10500, BIS 14543, and BIS 13428), including the updated requirements for the measurement of uranium.&nbsp;Using the low matrix preset method and autotuning routine within the Agilent ICP-MS MassHunter software streamlined the analytical workflow, minimizing setup time while ensuring accurate and interference-free results. Excellent recoveries of the certified elements in NIST 1643f Trace Elements in Water SRM confirmed the accuracy of the method for those elements.&nbsp;The 7850 ICP-MS demonstrated good stability throughout the analysis of 130 solutions, making it a robust tool for quality and safety analysis of drinking water in accordance with Indian government standards.<h3>3. Metrohm: Determining phosphate concentration with Raman spectroscopy</h3>A rapid and reagent-free alternative to chromatography and other wet chemical methods<ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_rs_049_download_c8d1992d32.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Phosphates are vital inorganic compounds found extensively in nature and created by industrial processes. They play a crucial role in biological systems and are essential for life. In agriculture, phosphates are a primary component of fertilizers, enhancing soil fertility and increasing crop yields. Industrially, they are used in detergents, food additives, and as corrosion inhibitors. Raman spectroscopy, combined with PLS (Partial Least Squares) modeling, rapidly and quantitatively determines total phosphate concentration. Compared to other techniques like thermometric titration, Raman requires minimal sample preparation and accurately determines phosphate concentration over several orders of magnitude. Furthermore, Raman analysis is accomplished in a few minutes, compared to the longer analysis time required for chromatography and other wet chemical methods.<h4>CURRENT METHODS FOR PHOSPHATE ANALYSIS</h4>Phosphate content is traditionally analyzed by wet chemical colorimetric methods. In colorimetry, a colorforming reagent reacts with phosphates in solution to form a reaction product with a measurable color change. Ion chromatography is also used for quantitative analysis of phosphate ions, especially at low concentrations. While effective, both methods require extensive and time-consuming sample preparation. Ion chromatography is quite sensitive but requires several minutes to complete a determination. Additionally, these methods can generate waste that can damage the environment and are expensive to dispose of properly<h4>PHOSPHATE ANALYSIS WITH <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=220&amp;search=MIRA+XTR">RAMAN</a></h4>Raman spectroscopy can be used for both speciation analysis and quantification using the unique spectral fingerprint of phosphoric acid’s protonation states. It is sensitive and nondestructive, making it ideal for the analysis of fast, in-process measurements. This Application Note demonstrates Raman’s ability to determine phosphate concentration over a wide range.&nbsp;<h4>RESULTS&nbsp;</h4>The principal Raman band for phosphate ions, observed between 850 to 950 cm−1 [1], changes with the protonation state of the molecule. Deprotonation occurs as a function of concentration and the phosphate peak ranges from 890 to 897 cm−1, with lower sample concentrations shifting to lower wavenumbers and intensities (Figure 2). This band was used for quantitative analysis of total phosphate ion concentration.<h4>CONCLUSION</h4>Raman spectroscopy offers a reliable and efficient method for quantitative analysis of total phosphates in solution. Its advantages include minimal sample preparation, nondestructive analysis, and high accuracy over a broad concentration range. This technique is particularly valuable for industrial applications where rapid and accurate phosphate determination is crucial for quality control and regulatory compliance.<h3>4. Shimadzu: Determination of 23 Nutritional, Essential and Toxic Elements in Urine by ICP-MS Using Alkaline Dilution</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_05_sca_116_013_en_7b298cd6e2.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h4>User Benefits</h4><ul><li>Urine calibrator allows for simple preparation and quick measurement of 23 elements&nbsp;</li><li>Alkaline media ensures safe determination of iodine and excellent mercury washout capabilities&nbsp;</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?instrumentationItems=22&amp;mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=LabSolutions">LabSolutions</a> ICPMS allows for high degree of automation by Extended Rinsing function and e.g. control of QC sample or internal standard recovery</li></ul>The analysis of nutritional, essential, and toxic elements in urine is a critical tool for assessing human health, environmental exposure, and metabolic function. Urine serves as a noninvasive biological matrix that reflects the body's excretion of trace elements, providing valuable insights into nutritional deficiencies, toxic metal exposure, and the status of essential minerals.&nbsp;Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a highly sensitive and precise analytical technique that enables the detection of trace elements at ultra-low concentrations, making it ideal for comprehensive urine analysis.<h4>Configuration &amp; Measurement Condition&nbsp;</h4>The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=ICPMS-2050+LF">ICPMS-2050 LF</a> system configuration is summarized in Table 3. More than 20 elements have been selected for quantification (Table 4). To remove interferences the ICPMS-2050 highly efficient collisionand reaction cellwas applied by adding He or H2. In most cases the trace region is of interest. To improve the precision in the low-end trace region all calibration curves (Fig. 2) are inversely weighted (1/I).<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>Sample cycle times (including rinse) of below 3 minutes can be achieved without using complex sample injection techniques. This short time can be achieved by the collision/reaction cell’s extreme low gas switching times (&lt;5 sec.) and features like ProActive Rinsing, which allows to already start rinsing before the actual measurement is finished. This is possible because the remaining sample in the capillary is further injected (measured), before rinse solution reachesthe nebulizer. For routine use, the ICPMS-2050 LF running alkaline media is highly suitable for analyzing nutritional, essential, and toxic elementsin urine samples, even including iodine.<h3>5. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Steel analysis: ARL X900 XRF Spectrometer with universal goniometer</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/steel_analysis_arl_x900_xrf_spectrometer_an41425_en_5ad9805407.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Ferrous base materials are very important products in this world because they are the foundation in many applications such as building, automotive, and many manufacturing processes. It is important to accurately analyze these materials to confirm compliance with their chemical specifications and allow for high quality and efficient production.&nbsp;<h4>Irons&nbsp;</h4>There are several kinds of irons which are distinguished by their composition and use. They belong to two main categories:&nbsp;<ul><li>Pig iron, also called hot metal, forms the basic material for the manufacture of steel&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Cast irons, are used to produce semi-manufactured products&nbsp;</li></ul>From a metallographic point of view, a distinction can be made between white cast iron, with a cementite structure and grey cast iron which contains free graphite either in the form of laminae or nodules. This makes grey cast iron inhomogeneous and therefore difficult to analyze. Alloy cast irons also exist where alloying elements such as nickel, chromium, manganese, copper, etc. are added to improve hardness, corrosion resistance, or engineering properties.<h4>Instrument parameters and conditions&nbsp;</h4>The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1978">ARL X900 XRF</a> Spectrometer is equipped with the unique proprietary moiré fringe goniometer. Speed, flexibility, and reliability of analysis are guaranteed thanks to the ingenious friction-free positioning system. Up to nine crystals and four collimators can be fitted. With the two detectors (flow proportional and scintillation counters), precise elemental analysis from boron to californium is possible. Additionally, the spectrometer can accommodate up to 24 fixed monochromator channels alongside the goniometer or up to 32 fixed monochromator channels when no goniometer is fitted.&nbsp;The ARL X900 XRF Spectrometer can be calibrated using commercially available certified reference material (CRM) standards or well analyzed samples from the user.&nbsp;It should be stressed that an XRF spectrometer is a very accurate comparator, but the accuracy of the final analysis is entirely dependent on the quality of the standards used for calibration and on the care and reproducibility of sample preparation which must be identical for CRMs and for routine samples as well.<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>Analysis of steels can be performed with ease using the ARL X900 Simultaneous-Sequential XRF Spectrometer. The performance of the moiré fringe goniometer is such that it can be used for analysis of any elements that are not fitted as fixed channels. The analysis on the goniometer is done while the fixed channels are also measuring. In addition, it can be used as a backup in case of failure of any of the fixed channels.&nbsp;Appropriate calibrations for steel alloys can be delivered turnkey from Thermo Fisher Scientific. In this case, the commissioning time of the spectrometer is reduced to a minimum.&nbsp;The precision is excellent in these matrix types for routine or R&amp;D analysis, especially when an innovative, high counting fixed channel monochromator is used for elements like Ni, Co or Mo.&nbsp;Furthermore, operation is made easy through the advanced Thermo Scientific™ <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2029">OXSAS™ Software</a> that operates with the latest Microsoft Windows® package.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 31, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 4th August 2025? Check out new documents from the field of spectroscopy/spectrometry and related techniques!<blockquote>👉 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library">SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT SPECTROSCOPY/SPECTROMETRY RELATED TECHNIQUES</a></blockquote><blockquote>👉 Need info about different analytical techniques? Peek into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezLCMS</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezGCMS</a> libraries.</blockquote>This week we bring you technical note by Agilent Technologies, brochure by Anton Paar and application notes by Metrohm and Shimadzu!<h3>1. Agilent Technologies: This is How You ICP-MS: Mastering the Art of Cone Performance&nbsp;</h3>A guide to maintenance of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?instrumentationItems=83&amp;mainauthorItems=10">ICP-MS</a> instruments to help you achieve the best analytical performance<ul><li>Technical note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/technicaloverview_ICP_MS_guide_5994_0860_EN_agilent_965ff11210.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Focusing in on the interface region, where the cones sit, analyte ions are produced within the plasma, which is at very high temperatures and atmospheric pressure. These ions must be transmitted into a mass spectrometer, which needs to operate at very low pressures. First, these analyte ions are sampled through the first cone (the sampling cone) before they enter a low-pressure interface region where the ions expand and are extracted by a combination of a second cone (the skimmer cone) and extraction lenses. This is How You ICP-MS: Mastering the Art of Cone Performance A guide to maintenance of ICP-MS instruments to help you achieve the best analytical performance 2 Figure 1 is a schematic of the interface region. The purpose of the extraction lenses and sampling cones is to get the analyte ions through to the reaction cell, then into the quadrupole in the mass spectrometer. As well as transitioning from atmospheric pressure to very low pressure, it is important to exclude any photons or neutral species that would contribute to background signal, and only transmit positively charged analyte ions through to the mass spectrometer. Agilent provides several software tools to optimize this ion&nbsp;transmission.<h4>Interface cones&nbsp;</h4>Look more closely at the interface cones. These are key to the performance of the ICP-MS, and so should be inspected regularly, focusing particularly on the orifice. Agilent offers a handy magnifier tool for this purpose. This magnifier is illuminated, and provides 10x magnification, together with a measuring scale. You need to check that the orifice is clear, that it is still circular, and that the dimensions remain correct. The sampler cone should be one millimeter in diameter. If it is clogged, it should be cleaned, and if it is enlarged, it has come to the end of its useful life and should be&nbsp;replaced.&nbsp;Some common interface cone issues can occur from mishandling or poor use. The cones themselves are very fragile, particularly the tip on the skimmer cone, which comes to a very fine point, so poor handling will cause problems. The tip should not be placed in contact with any surface during cleaning, removal, and reinstallation into the instrument.&nbsp;The correct skimmer base for the skimmer cone must be used – the key thing to remember is the material that you are using. Nickel skimmer cones need to use a stainless steel skimmer base, and this is the default for an x-lens system. If you are using platinum cones, you need a brass skimmer base. This is Agilent's default for the semiconductor configuration instruments. It allows control of the tip temperature to prevent overheating, and ensures that the matrix deposits in a uniform manner on the tip.&nbsp;There is a balance to be struck here as the cones should be maintained to ensure their performance, but they should not be cleaned any more than necessary. This is because any cleaning of the cones will reduce their lifetime. You must focus on the tip of the cone, especially the condition of the orifice – there is no need to clean and polish the face of the cone back to its original condition. The appearance of the cone face is essentially unimportant, but you need to ensure that the orifice is the correct dimension, is clear, and is the correct shape (Figure 2).<h4>Tips and resources&nbsp;</h4>Finally, following are some tips, tricks, and resources to help you with your maintenance procedures, and for getting the best performance out of the ICP-MS.&nbsp;<h5>Recommended end-of-day procedure&nbsp;</h5>Follow these steps:&nbsp;<ol><li>Aspirate acid rinse solution for a few minutes before shutting off the plasma. This helps to prevent sample deposition inside the nebulizer after the run.&nbsp;</li><li>Extinguish the plasma and switch off the chiller.&nbsp;</li><li>Remove the sample capillary from the rinse, start the pump again, and pump any remaining rinse solution from the spray chamber.&nbsp;</li><li>Release the pressure bars on the pump tubing and remove the bridges from the securing slot. Ensure that the tubes are no longer stretched over the pump rollers.&nbsp;</li><li>Empty the waste vessel.&nbsp;</li><li>Close the current worksheet – leave MassHunter S/W&nbsp;running.&nbsp;</li><li>Leave the main power on. This keeps the instrument in stand-by mode (ensures fastest start-up).</li></ol><h3>2. Anton Paar: Solutions for Biomaterials Surface Characterization</h3><ul><li>Brochure</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/XPAIP_063_EN_G_Brochure_Surface_Characterization_Biomaterials_screen_d91edbd354.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Anton Paar offers a suite of advanced analytical tools designed for precise surface characterization of biomaterials, addressing challenges across fields such as orthopedics, ophthalmology, dentistry, and medical devices. These instruments allow researchers and developers to study friction, wear, elasticity, chemical interactions, and optical properties of complex biological materials under conditions that closely mimic real-life scenarios inside the human body.In orthopedics and prosthetics, the MCR tribometer simulates sliding movements with extreme precision to evaluate tribological performance, while the UNHT³ Bio indenter quantifies bone hardness and elasticity to support drug development for diseases like osteoporosis. For improving implant coatings, the SurPASS 3 system analyzes protein adsorption and zeta potential, aiding in the prevention of bacterial biofilms.Ophthalmic applications benefit from this technology through the assessment of contact lens aging, comfort, and surface chemistry. The combination of refractive index measurement via the Abbemat refractometer and zeta potential analysis ensures product safety and comfort over time. Meanwhile, hydrogels and soft materials—difficult to measure due to their delicate nature—can be reliably tested with MCR tribometers fitted with specialized holders.For dental and medical devices, Anton Paar offers nanoindentation and scratch testing tools such as the NHT³ and NST³ systems. These evaluate tooth enamel hardness and coating adhesion on stents, ensuring material performance and regulatory compliance. The brochure also highlights four key measurement categories—mechanical, chemical, optical, and tribological surface analyses—offering a modular approach tailored to the unique demands of biomaterial development and validation.<h3>3. Metrohm: See-through ID with Raman technology&nbsp;</h3>Through-package identification with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=220&amp;search=1064+nm+Raman">1064 nm Raman</a><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/410000029_download_027fb2bee0.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>See-through Raman spectroscopy (ST) is a recently developed technology that expands the capability of Raman spectroscopy to measure samples through packaging materials. The technology is available on the Metrohm TacticID-1064ST (TID1064ST) handheld Raman system with 1064 nm laser excitation. This design enhances the relative intensity of the signal from deeper layers, increasing the effective sampling depth and permitting measurement of materials inside visually opaque containers. ST technology also incorporates a large sampling area. The larger sampling area has the additional advantages of preventing sample damage through reduced power density and improving measurement accuracy of heterogeneous materials.<h4>ST AND COMMON CONTAINERS&nbsp;</h4>Through-package identification of materials in white polyethylene (PE) bottles (a common packaging for solid chemicals) and other opaque packaging such as white and manila envelopes is demonstrated with 1064 nm Raman spectroscopy. The container contribution is removed with advanced identification algorithms, and the sample is correctly identified. Identification through colored plastic, multiple opaque layers, and thick glass can be made with TID1064ST. Identification of sodium benzoate inside a white PE bottle is given in Figure 1.Coated tablets can also be identified. ST technology penetrates the coating layer and measures the Raman spectrum of the underlying tablet. This allows the instrument to effectively sample through colored and dark materials, enabling reliable analysis without being obscured by surface effects. Figure 2 shows the Raman spectrum of a tablet with a very dark coating. Despite interference from the coating, signature peaks are still apparent.<h4>APPLICATIONS OF ST TECHNOLOGY&nbsp;</h4>Many raw materials are packaged in single- or multilayer kraft paper sacks, often with a plastic lining. Brown kraft paper exhibits strong fluorescence under 785 nm Raman excitation, which can hinder material identification. However, with ST and 1064 nm Raman technologies, accurate identification is possible even through such challenging packaging.&nbsp;To demonstrate, we evaluated the ability of ST Raman at 1064 nm to identify several common excipients—varying in Raman scattering strength—through multi-layer paper bags used in pharmaceutical raw material packaging. As shown in Table 1, even trisodium phosphate, a notoriously low Raman scatterer, was correctly identified. A positive ID requires a hit quality index (HQI) above 85 that exceeds the second-best hit by at least 2 points. In contrast, trisodium phosphate could be identified only through white kraft paper using 785 nm excitation.&nbsp;Figure 3 shows the spectrum of trisodium phosphate as measured through a two-ply bag of white and brown kraft paper, with a positive library search result. Although the spectrum is dominated by spectral features from the paper bag, TID1064ST is capable of reliably identifying trisodium phosphate.<h4>CONCLUSION</h4>The ability to measure samples inside packages, eliminating the need for sample contact, is one of the major advantages of Raman spectroscopy. Metrohm’s ST technology permits measurements through opaque materials: from white plastic bottles to fiber and kraft paper sacks, envelopes, and even skin. This supports easy adoption of this spectroscopic tool in many working environments, from the laboratory to the field. The combination of ST technology and 1064 nm laser excitation addresses even dark and highly colored packaging materials. This makes Raman suitable for many new potential users, for whom it has not previously been a viable tool.<h3>4. Shimadzu: Changes in Fluorescence Properties Due to Temperature—Using a Thermoelectric Single-Cell Constant-Temperature Holder—</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_00909_en_622331d1c6.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h4>User Benefits</h4><ul><li>Fluorescence properties can be confirmed quickly and easily while controlling the temperature with a thermoelectrically temperature-controlled single-cell holder.</li><li>Thermoelectric control can control temperatures in a wider range of temperatures (0 to 100 °C) than thermostatic water control.</li></ul>The intensity and peak positions of fluorescence can vary depending on various external factors, such as temperature, solvent, and pH. Temperature is considered particularly important because it can affect the transition from an excited state to the ground state. Therefore, many experiments are conducted in low-temperature environments. (For an example of measuring data in a low-temperature state, refer to Application News No. A561.) Similarly, experiments are conducted in high-temperature states because fluorescent light measurements can also vary. (Peaks can shift or disappear.) This article describes an example of using a thermoelectric single-cell constant-temperature holder*1 to measure temperature variationsin the high-temperaturedirection.<h4>Measurement Parameters</h4><ul><li>Instruments: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=RF-6000+">RF-6000&nbsp;</a></li><li>Optional Parts:&nbsp;<ul><li>Thermoelectric single-cell constanttemperature holder* 1<ul><li>Constant-temperature water recirculation unit</li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><h4>Spectral Changes Caused by Ink Temperature</h4>Commercially marketed ballpoint pens with erasable ink are manufactured with a special process that causes the color of the ink to disappear when it is rubbed. This is due to a reaction causedby heat from friction.&nbsp;3D spectra were measured from a commercially marketed fluorescent ballpoint pen (with a water-based orange color) by dissolving the ink in purified water to prepare a sample solution (an orange ink solution). This was measured as the temperature was varied according to the settings indicated in Table 2. Because it was a fluorescent pen, the results show fluorescence. The temperature was varied from 25 to 80 °C. A stopper-sealed cell was used for measurements with increasing temperatures. The appearance and 3D spectra of the sample at representative temperaturesare shown in Figs. 5 and 6.<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>The fluorescence spectra of lysozyme and erasable fluorescent ballpoint pen ink were measured at varying temperatures. The spectra from the aqueous lysozyme solution showed a redshift in the peak wavelength above a certain temperature. The spectra from the erasable fluorescent ballpoint pen ink showed that the fluorescent color disappeared when the solution reached a certain temperature. It also showed that along with the disappearance of fluorescent color, additional fluorescence appeared in a separate wavelength region.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 32, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 11th August 2025? Check out new documents from the field of spectroscopy/spectrometry and related techniques!<blockquote>👉 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library">SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT SPECTROSCOPY/SPECTROMETRY RELATED TECHNIQUES</a></blockquote><blockquote>👉 Need info about different analytical techniques? Peek into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezLCMS</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezGCMS</a> libraries.</blockquote>This week we bring you guide by Agilent Technologies, brochure by Anton Paar and application notes by Metrohm and Shimadzu!<h3>1. Agilent Technologies: AA Troubleshooting and Maintenance Guide&nbsp;</h3>Tips, tricks, and good advice for ensuring your AA instruments achieve the best performance<ul><li>Guide</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/technicaloverview_AA_guide_5994_0858_EN_agilent_bc66e8fc7b.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>This Agilent guide provides practical advice for maintaining atomic absorption (AA) instruments, improving performance, and extending instrument lifespan. Based on survey data from 700 laboratories, key challenges include instrument downtime, sample preparation issues, and space constraints. Agilent addresses these through design features like compact instruments and high-performance consumables, including long-life UltrAA hollow cathode lamps with up to 30 % more sensitivity and lifetimes exceeding 8,000 mA hours.The document offers troubleshooting tips for lamps, nebulizers, burners, and spray chambers. It emphasizes prevention—regular rinsing to avoid blockages, polishing burners, replacing pitted impact beads, and aligning burners correctly. For optimal results, it also covers flame chemistry adjustments, such as fine-tuning acetylene flow for nitrous oxide/acetylene flames. Multi-element lamps are shown to deliver performance comparable to single-element lamps when used under recommended conditions.Accurate calibration standards are essential for reliable quantification. The guide explains the differences between Reference Materials (RMs) and Certified Reference Materials (CRMs), advising on preparation, matrix matching, contamination prevention, and storage. Agilent’s standards are manufactured in ISO-accredited facilities, traceable to NIST, and supplied with comprehensive Certificates of Analysis.Finally, the guide outlines recommended daily, weekly, and periodic maintenance schedules, along with a list of key consumables to keep on hand. Agilent offers operating supply kits to support a year of routine operation, helping labs maintain consistent performance, minimize downtime, and ensure data quality in flame, graphite furnace, and vapor generation AA systems.<h3>2. Anton Paar: Solutions for Your Supreme Spirits</h3><ul><li>Brochure</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/XDLIP_058_EN_D_Brochure_Spirits_analysis_overview_screen_d55d8c66c1.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Anton Paar offers a comprehensive range of solutions for precise, efficient, and regulation-compliant analysis of distilled spirits, liqueurs, and related products. Leveraging over 40 years of application expertise, their portfolio includes handheld devices, benchtop density meters, and modular multiparameter systems. These instruments deliver high accuracy—alcohol measurements with repeatability down to 0.01 % v/v—while reducing measurement times by up to tenfold compared with traditional distillation.Key technologies like the Pulsed Excitation Method, FillingCheck™ for bubble detection, and U-View™ for visual sample verification ensure reliable results and streamlined workflows. Instruments are designed for durability, supported by a three-year warranty and a global service network. Applications span the entire production process—from raw material control and fermentation monitoring to distillation, blending, and final product bottling—covering parameters such as alcohol, extract, density, pH, color, turbidity, and sugar content.Systems can be tailored for specific tasks, including wort and juice analysis, liqueur quality control, and safeguarding visual properties like color and clarity. Automation options, such as high-throughput sample changers and integration with AP Connect lab execution software, enable fully digital workflows and higher productivity. These solutions ensure consistent quality, tax compliance, and competitive advantage in the beverage industry.<h3>3. Metrohm: Rapid phenotypic identification of microorganisms with Raman</h3>A simple and nondestructive method for bacterial analysis<ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_rs_047_download_b050d98d38.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Raman spectroscopy is used in microbiology for its potential to identify bacteria and monitor metabolites. All living organisms on Earth are composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and other trace elements. These elements bond together to form DNA, lipids, amino acids, and other biomolecules. The composition of these biomolecules varies between organisms. Some bacteria store metabolites (e.g., polyphosphate and glycogen) depending on environmental conditions. The Raman spectra of bacteria reflect these chemical differences, enabling their identification and elucidating their roles in bioprocesses.<h4>EXPERIMENT</h4>Lysogeny broth (LB) agar culture media was prepared by dissolving LB powder and agar powder in deionized water following manufacturer specifications (Sigma-Aldrich). After autoclaving, the mixture was poured into sterilized glass petri dishes and cooled. Once the LB agar solidified, fingers were pressed onto the surface to transfer bacteria to the media.&nbsp;The petri dish was then incubated at room temperature until bacterial colonies were observed. The petri dish was placed on a BAC150B probe holder and BAC151C Video microscope, and Raman spectra were collected from colonies and the culture media (Figure 1).&nbsp;<ul><li>Instrument setup:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=220&amp;search=+i-Raman+Prime+785"> i-Raman Prime 785</a>,<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=220&amp;search=+i-Raman+EX"> i-Raman EX</a></li></ul><h4>CONCLUSION&nbsp;</h4>Raman spectroscopy can be used to acquire spectra of bacterial colonies directly from solid culture media. Raman spectra collected with 785 nm excitation provides higher resolution, while excitation at 1064 nm reduces fluorescence from culture media. Simple bacterial colonies can be differentiated using PCA models, but advanced machine-learning algorithms can be used to characterize more complex microbial communities. Users can easily export the spectral files from i-Raman instruments for further analysis using BWSpec software or other more advanced machine learning tools.<h3>4. Shimadzu: TOC and TIC Analysis in Hydroxide Solutions Using High-Temperature Catalytic Combustion&nbsp;</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_05_sca_130_305_en_925eeb11bd.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h4>User Benefits</h4><ul><li>TOC and TIC of hydroxide solutions such as NaOH and KOH can be determined using a TOC-L analyzer</li><li>The internal acidification function minimizes the volume of acid required and reduces the time spent on sample preparation.</li><li>The High salt combustion tube kit prolongs the service life of the combustion catalyst</li></ul>Hydroxide solutions, especially sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH), are commonly used in chemical, industrial, and environmental processes. These solutions neutralize acids to form water and salts, a process that is essential in various reactions. As strong bases, NaOH and KOH play a significant role in the production of a variety of goods, including soap, through the saponification process (Figure 1), in which they react with oils and fats. However, organic contaminants in these chemicals can lead to impurities, necessitating quality control of the reactants to ensure product integrity.Furthermore, hydroxides are potent CO₂ absorbers. They form carbonate and bicarbonate ions when they bind CO₂. Their solutions are used for various purposes, including sequestering fossil fuel emissions, which can be quantified by measuring total inorganic carbon (TIC).&nbsp;KOH is an essential electrolyte in the alkaline electrolysis of green hydrogen. Total organic carbon (TOC) limits must be maintained to ensure the smooth operation of this sensitive technology. Analytical quality control of hydroxide solutions is therefore necessary to ensure product quality and uphold process efficiency of alkaline electrolyzers.<h4>Measurement conditions TOC analysis</h4><ul><li>Analyzer: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=TOC-L+">TOC-L CxH</a> (CxN possible for NPOC analysis only)&nbsp;</li><li>Catalyst: Saline&nbsp;</li><li>Meas. Parameter: NPOC (Direct method TOC=NPOC)&nbsp;</li><li>Calibration curve: 5-point NPOC calibration using automatic dilution function in the range of 0,1 - 10 mg/l, 10 mgC/l KHP standard solution&nbsp;</li><li>Acidification: H2SO4 4mol/l, acid addition 12 %&nbsp;</li><li>Sparge settings: 5 min. (internal). 80 ml/min</li><li>Injection settings: 150 µl, 3 / max. 5 injections Multiple injections ON&nbsp;</li><li>Other settings: Correction of dilution ON</li></ul><h4>TIC analysis results&nbsp;</h4>The results of the analysis of the KOH and NaOH solutions using the TIC method are shown in Table 5. The calibration stock solution with a TIC concentration of 10 mg/l was used as the control standard as well. Since the TIC concentrations of the KOH and NaOH samples were higher than the calibration span, the instrument automatically re-sampled and re-measured the samples with an increased internal dilution factor using the "correction of dilution" function. These results demonstrate the method's good recovery and robustness.&nbsp;The limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method was determined to as ten times the standard deviation of a sixfold injected pure water blank sample.&nbsp;TIC LOQ: 10 x 0,006 mg/l = 0,06 mg/l.<h4>TOC-L system configuration&nbsp;</h4>For the analysis, a TOC-L CPH was retrofitted with a combustion tube for high-salt samples, operating at 680°C. As a precautionary measure, an SO₃ mist catcher was also installed (see Fig. 4). Combusting at temperatures below the melting points of common salts (particularly sulfates) mitigates blockages caused by molten salt. Instead, the salt precipitates as a powder on the catalyst. The High Salt Kit also includes a catalyst tube with an increased diameter, a mixture of catalyst beads of various sizes, and ceramic mesh to replace the standard platinum nets. This increases the catalyst replacement interval at high salt loads.&nbsp;The combustion of excess sulfuric acid produces sulfur dioxide (SO₂), which then catalytically produces sulfur trioxide (SO₃) in an oxygen atmosphere. This can lead to interference in the CO₂ detection flow line, potentially resulting in false high TOC readings and peak tailing. Furthermore, the combustion products of large amounts of H₂SO₄ are corrosive and can damage the NDIR detector over time. The optional SO₃ mist catcher removes these unwanted combustion products from the sample gas. It is installed after the dehumidifier and before the halogen scrubber in the TOC-L flow path.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 33, 2025

Many elements, such as chromium, zinc or selenium are considered essential micronutrients for humans and are subject to ongoing research. Their concentration in foods can be accurately determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Deciphering_Selenium_Nutrition_Using_Speciation_Analysis_with_ICP_MS_3ecef88508.jpg" alt="Thermo Fisher Scientific: Deciphering Selenium Nutrition Using Speciation Analysis with ICP-MS" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Deciphering_Selenium_Nutrition_Using_Speciation_Analysis_with_ICP_MS_3ecef88508.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1200" height="600"><article><div>However, beyond the actual levels of an element in a sample, the precise chemical form in which it is present is important. Trace elements may occur in different oxidation states (for example, essential Cr (III) and its carcinogenic counterpart Cr (VI)) or may be found incorporated into organic molecules. This may lead to significantly different results when assessing potential hazards from a sample with respect to toxicity. For example, fruit juices such as apple juice may only contain 10 µg∙L-1 of arsenic, as it is mostly found as inorganic arsenic, whereas fish and seafood can be safely consumed even though they may contain total concentrations 1000-fold higher, as arsenic is commonly found in organic forms. The qualitative and/or quantitative determination of different chemical forms of an analyte in a sample is often referred to as speciation analysis.Prof. Dr. Marc Birringer, Alexander Maxones and Simon Glas from the University of Applied Science in Fulda, Germany, working at the department for nutritional, food and consumer sciences, explore the importance of selenium (Se) in foods, leveraging speciation analysis to assess different selenium species for their bioavailability. “The journey on selenium species started in the 1990s”, says Prof. Birringer, “when people started to understand why selenium is important for biochemistry and nutrition. When we started with ICP-MS as a new technique in our lab, we learned that this technique can really give us a lot of information in single and multi-element analysis, and we planned to perform speciation analysis, too.”Selenium is an essential trace element that is low in abundance in Germany. Important sources for this essential trace element are fish, meat or eggs. Because these foods are not part of a vegetarian’s or vegan’s diet, they are particularly susceptible to the potential risk of malnutrition. Mushrooms, in particular porcini mushroom (boletus edulis), could be an alternative source when meat or fish are not part of the diet based on an individual’s choice. One compound that is particularly abundant is selenoneine, a derivative of ergothioneine, where a selenium atom replaces a sulfur atom.Whereas there are a lot of chromatographic methods established to separate other water-soluble selenium compounds, like inorganic selenium (Se (IV) and Se (VI)), methods allowing separation of organic selenium compounds like selenoneine are more difficult to optimize when ICP-MS is used as an element-specific detection system. Separation based on hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) typically start with high amounts of organic solvents in the mobile phase, which require the ICP-MS to be equipped accordingly., i.e. oxygen addition to the plasma and platinum tipped cones.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/content/lifetech/global/en/home/industrial/chromatography/ion-chromatography-ic.html">Ion chromatography (IC)</a> is well known for its ability to separate charged ions or polarizable species and is often the technique of choice for speciation analysis of elements such as arsenic or selenium. Typical IC systems, such as the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/410">Thermo Scientific Dionex ICS-6000 Ion Chromatography systems,</a> are fully inert and can therefore leverage eluents with very high or low pH values. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“We have an ICS-6000 HPIC in the laboratory, but that system is usually blocked for other assays. However, the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products?category=39&amp;search=Vanquish">Thermo Scientific Vanquish HPLC</a> was also compatible with the mobile phase we used, which was at pH 2”, says Prof. Birringer. “This system was used for the separation with a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/2076">Thermo Scientific Dionex IonPac CS12 column</a>.&nbsp; This allowed good separation for the organic compounds containing selenium, even though the separation of the inorganic and ionic species was not ideal under these conditions.”During method development, it was very important to also monitor sulfur, as there is no standard available for selenoneine and instead, the sulfur-containing analog ergothioneine was used. For both elements, the use of a triple quadrupole ICP-MS system such as the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1488">Thermo Scientific iCAP MTX ICP-MS</a> provides significant advantages. Both elements are potentially biased by polyatomic interferences (especially the most abundant isotopes 32S and 80Se), which can be efficiently reduced using oxygen as a reactive gas.“What we found in the boletus edulis was a lot of compounds that we did not know before or could at least not explain as we have no mass spectra to confirm structures, but we do have the ICP-MS data”. They must be present in low concentrations and would likely be found in the noise in a normal LC-MS run states Prof. Birringer.Coupling of the two systems is straightforward. When water-based eluents are applied, the outlet of the column can be directly connected to the nebulizer of the ICP-MS system using narrow bore tubing and a zero dead volume connector. &nbsp;“I´m really comfortable with the system, and I think it gives us a lot of possibilities” says Alexander Maxones. “I would like to explore other column options for future projects, as I think smaller particles would be beneficial for further separation of species”, he adds.For data evaluation, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/76">Thermo Scientific Chromelon CDS software</a> was used, as it provides more options for peak integration and smoothing of raw data, if needed. The original data collected on the ICP-MS can be directly imported into Chromeleon CDS software.“The methodology developed can now be applied to a wider range of samples. We have found at least five unknown compounds in boletus edulis, but it is clear from the literature that other mushrooms, for example shiitake, can also accumulate some selenium. We are sure they have similar but also different compounds to be investigated”, says Prof. Birringer. Next is additional food matrices, but also human samples.<blockquote><ul><li>For more information, please visit the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.hs-fulda.de/oecotrophologie/labore/analytik">laboratory´s website</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/content/lifetech/global/en/home/industrial/mass-spectrometry/inductively-coupled-plasma-mass-spectrometry-icp-ms/quadrupole-icp-ms-systems.html"><ins>Quadrupole ICP-MS Systems</ins></a>.</li><li>Visit us on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/72003132/admin/dashboard/">LinkedIn:</a>&nbsp;#ICP-MS</li></ul></blockquote></div></article><section><blockquote><h4>Daniel Kutscher</h4>Dr. Daniel Kutscher manages the Application Development for trace elemental analysis and GC/GC-MS products at the Thermo Fisher Scientific Center of Excellence in Mass Spectrometry in Bremen, Germany. After graduation in Chemistry in 2007, Daniel obtained his PhD from the University of Oviedo in 2011. In the same year, he joined Thermo Fisher Scientific and has had different roles in application development and marketing.</blockquote></section>

Deciphering Selenium Nutrition Using Speciation Analysis with ICP-MS

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 34, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 25th August 2025? Check out new documents from the field of spectroscopy/spectrometry and related techniques!<blockquote>👉 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library">SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT SPECTROSCOPY/SPECTROMETRY RELATED TECHNIQUES</a></blockquote><blockquote>👉 Need info about different analytical techniques? Peek into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezLCMS</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezGCMS</a> libraries.</blockquote>This week we bring you application notes by Agilent Technologies, Metrohm and Shimadzu and poster by Thermo Fisher Scientific!<h3>1. Agilent Technologies: Low-Level UV-Vis Haze Detection for Improved Reliability of Li-Ion Battery Electrolytes &nbsp;</h3>Overcoming quality control blind spots with the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=Cary+60+UV-Vis">Cary 60 UV-Vis</a> and the diffuse reflectance accessory (DRA)<ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_electrolyte_haze_cary_60_uv_vis_dra_5994_8446en_agilent_2f171821a2.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become indispensable in modern life, powering everything from portable electronics to electric vehicles. As demand grows for higher-capacity, longer-lasting, and more efficient batteries, research efforts continue to focus on optimizing every component, including the electrolyte.&nbsp;The electrolyte plays a critical role in battery performance by enabling the transport of ions between the two electrodes. It typically consists of a lithium salt, most commonly lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6 ), dissolved in a mixture of organic carbonate solvents such as ethylene carbonate (EC), ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC), and dimethyl carbonate (DMC). However, these electrolyte formulations are highly sensitive to moisture and prone to degradation over time. This degradation can lead to the formation of particulate matter or impurities that are invisible to the naked eye but can significantly impact electrolyte quality during manufacturing.&nbsp;In this application note, we explore how the Agilent Cary 60 UV-Vis spectrophotometer, paired with an Agilent Cary 60 diffuse reflectance accessory (DRA), can be used to assess LIB electrolyte quality.&nbsp;Traditional UV-Vis transmission compartments can struggle with low-scattering samples like electrolytes, as scattered light may bypass the detector and lead to inaccurate readings. The Cary 60 DRA mitigates this limitation by enhancing light collection efficiency, making it well-suited for low-level haze&nbsp;analysis.<h4>Experimental</h4><h5>Instrumentation&nbsp;</h5>Diffuse transmission spectra and haze measurements were collected using the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=Cary+60+UV-Vis">Agilent Cary 60 UV-Vis spectrophotometer </a>controlled by the Agilent Cary WinUV Color software. The software allows users to select from a range of calculation options, including standardized color coordinate systems such as those defined by the Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE).&nbsp;For this application, the "Haze as per D1003" calculation mode was selected, which requires four individual scans to be performed using the DRA integrating sphere.<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>This study demonstrated the effectiveness of the Agilent Cary 60 UV-Vis equipped with a diffuse reflectance accessory (DRA) for assessing the quality of LIB electrolytes through haze measurements. The innovative method enabled the detection of particulates and early signs of degradation that are not visible to the naked eye, but can significantly impact battery performance, safety, and lifespan. Haze levels of the solutions increased notably with storage time and exposure to air, confirming the instrument's sensitivity to moisture‑induced changes in electrolyte composition. Measuring low-scattering samples in a standard UV‑Vis transmission compartment can be difficult because scattered light may miss the detector, causing inaccurate measurements. The Cary 60 DRA improves light collection efficiency, making it ideal for low-level haze analysis. As the integrating sphere collects all scattered light, this technique monitors minor changes in electrolyte condition, which is useful for assessing samples stored or transported under different environmental conditions. With the added advantage of automated calculations and reporting through the Agilent Cary WinUV Color software, the method offers a reliable, user-friendly solution for quality control in LIB electrolyte manufacturing and storage. The Cary 60 UV-Vis method helps manufacturers make informed decisions about handling and using electrolytes, ultimately supporting the production of safer, higher‑performing batteries.<h3>2. Metrohm: Determination of olive oil quality parameters and adulteration with NIR spectroscopy&nbsp;</h3>Near-infrared spectroscopy reduces costs and chemical waste<ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_nir_125_download_be04b478c5.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Olive oil quality depends on many factors, such as time spent processing olives after harvest, the production process itself, and olive variety. Due to its high price, virgin olive oil in particular is one of the most vulnerable vegetable oils for food fraud. Many parameters are used to determine the oil quality including the iodine value, free fatty acids (FFA), refractive index, fatty acid composition, and aging indicators such as peroxide value (PV), K232, and induction time. Traditional analysis techniques for olive oil testing like titration or gas chromatography (GC) often require hazardous solvents which can pose health risks and increase laboratory costs. In contrast to these standard methods, the analysis with nearinfrared spectroscopy (NIRS) helps to increase productivity and reduce costs, providing quick results for olive oil quality control<h4>EXPERIMENTAL EQUIPMENT&nbsp;</h4>A selection of olive oils with varying quality (137 samples) were measured on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=220&amp;search=OMNIS+NIR">OMNIS NIR</a> Analyzer Liquid (Figure 1) in transmission mode (1000–2250 nm) using 8 mm disposable vials. The vial temperature was set and monitored at 40 °C with the built-in vial sensor to ensure consistent measurement performance. The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=220&amp;search=OMNIS+software">OMNIS software</a> was used for all data acquisition and prediction model development.<h4>CONCLUSION</h4>This Application Note displays the positive attributes of olive oil analysis with near-infrared spectroscopy. Compared to time-consuming conventional analytical methods, measurements performed with NIRS do not need any sample preparation. This ultimately leads to a workload reduction (Table 3) and reduced costs. Aside from the parameters shown in this Application Note, additional olive oil quality parameters like sterol content or moisture content can also be determined with NIRS.<h3>3. Shimadzu: Evaluation of the Temperature Dependency of Tensile Strength of Electrode Materials for Lithium- Ion Batteries&nbsp;</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_00926_en_68e36051d4.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h5>User Benefits</h5><ul><li>A thermostatic chamber makes it possible to measure the tensile strength in actual temperature environments.&nbsp;</li><li>Pneumatic flat grips for foil make it possible to reduce the variation in grip force and stabilizing test conditions.&nbsp;</li><li>By using a load cell with a wider accuracy guarantee range than a conventional one, it is possible to perform high-accuracy tests even with a small test force</li></ul>Lithium-ion batteries play an important role in various electronic devices due to their high energy density and excellent charging efficiency. To improve battery performance, battery materials and processing methods are actively being developed. One of the evaluation methods for mechanical properties is strength measurement. The metal (current collector) used in the electrodes of lithium-ion batteries is subjected to tensile force during the manufacturing process. Evaluation of temperature dependence is required because the metal is also subjected to heat during manufacturing. This Application News introduces a workflow consisting of tensile strength evaluation of metal foil used as lithium-ion battery electrodes. The tests were performed under various temperatures to evaluate the temperature dependence of tensile strength. The apparatus used is also described.<h4>Apparatus&nbsp;</h4>Table 1 shows test apparatus configuration. In this experiment, Precision <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=AGS+-V">Universal Testing Machine AGS -V</a> was used and pneumatic flat grips for foil were mounted on it. These grips reduce the swing of the grip faces and their surfaces are processed into special shapes. This reduces the risk of fracture of the specimen at the clamped portion when testing a foil specimen. These pneumatic grips make it possible to mount specimens and to make the gripping force constant for each test. To adjust the temperature of the test space, the Compact-type <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=TCE-N300A">Thermostatic Chamber TCE-N300A</a> was used. It can be operated by the testing machines operation software TRAPEZIUM X-V. This software can control both the chamber and the testing machine in the same display. This function improves the system convenience.<h4>Conclusion</h4>&nbsp;Tensile tests using the AGS-V were conducted on three kinds of metal foil used as electrodes in lithium-ion batteries in the thermostatic chamber TCE-N300A. The test results show that the strength tended to decrease with increasing the temperature in all materials. The elongation at failure tended to increase at 180 °C for C1100 and at 100 °C and 180 °C for A1N30 and A1070.&nbsp;Pneumatic flat grips for foil make it possible to conduct tests without fracture nor slippage of the specimen at the clamped portion.&nbsp;This measurement enables the temperature dependence of the mechanical characteristics of metal foil used as electrodes for lithium-ion batteries to be easily obtained. It is expected to be applied to solving problems such as material selection and processing methods for lithium-ion batteries.<h3>4. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the Analysis of the Spatial Distribution of Trace Elements in Biological Systems&nbsp;</h3><ul><li>Poster</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/po_65485_icp_ms_imaging_spatial_distribution_trace_elements_asms2019_po65485_en_138f5f9ad8.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) is widely recognized as a powerful technique for the determination of trace elements in a variety of sample types. It is able to directly and quantitatively assess the amount of an element (e.g. toxic elements such as As or Hg, but also essential elements such as Cu, Zn, or Se). In some cases, not only the concentration, but also the lateral distribution can provide important information when investigating biological systems. Laser ablation imaging is becoming a well-established tool to visualize both naturally occurring and artificially introduced trace elements; however, there are challenges to overcome in order to achieve high lateral resolution and image contrast.<h4>MATERIALS AND METHODS</h4><h5>Test Method&nbsp;</h5>For the analysis, a Teledyne CETAC Technologies LSX-213 G2+ laser ablation system was coupled to a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1206">Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ TQ ICP-MS.</a> The iCAP TQ ICP-MS was configured with a high sensitivity interface (Table 1) to ensure the detection of analytes even in low concentrations and small amounts of ablated sample. Prior to the measurements, all plasma and interface related settings were tuned automatically and were fully tailored to the LA-based sample introduction by using the autotune procedures provided in the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1489">Thermo Scientific™ Qtegra™ Intelligent Scientific Data Solution (ISDS) Software.</a><h5>Data Analysis&nbsp;</h5>Both devices (laser ablation system mass spectrometer) were controlled using the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1489">Qtegra ISDS Software</a>. Through the use of dedicated plug-ins, full synchronization of data acquisition, allowing unattended routine operation for overnight runs, was possible. Data acquisition was accomplished using the tQuant virtual evaluation of the Qtegra ISDS Software. Data reduction and image construction were accomplished using self-developed software<h4>What is Elemental Imaging?&nbsp;</h4>Elemental images or maps refer to an LA-ICP-MS analysis that provides information on the elemental distribution across a two-dimensional area of a sample, for example across the surface of a biological tissue section. As the laser is fired at the sample surface, the sample is moved at a defined and constant rate. This means that the time profile of a line scan can be translated into a distance profile. Gathering multiple profiles across the sample generates a 2D image of the elemental distribution in the sample (3D after moving the laser sampling point in the vertical axis), where signal intensity is directly proportional to concentration.<h4>CONCLUSIONS&nbsp;</h4><ul><li>The LA-ICP-MS system described has been shown to be ideally suited for the high spatial resolution bioimaging analysis of various elements in thin sections in both single and triple quadrupole analysis modes.&nbsp;</li><li>The use of triple quadrupole technology in the iCAP TQ ICP-MS system clearly improves the images produced for analytes such as Ca (through the analysis of 44Ca 16O+ at m/z 60), iron (through the analysis of 56Fe 16O+ at m/z 72) or Se (through the analysis of 80Se 16O+ at m/z 96).&nbsp;</li><li>This also enables a wider dynamic range and cleaner backgrounds to reveal additional structural information not detectable by traditional single quadrupole ICPMS.</li></ul>

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 35, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 1st September 2025? Check out new documents from the field of spectroscopy/spectrometry and related techniques!<blockquote>👉 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library">SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT SPECTROSCOPY/SPECTROMETRY RELATED TECHNIQUES</a></blockquote><blockquote>👉 Need info about different analytical techniques? Peek into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezLCMS</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezGCMS</a> libraries.</blockquote>This week we bring you brochures by Agilent Technologies and Anton Paar, application note by Shimadzu and poster by Thermo Fisher Scientific!<h3>1. Agilent Technologies: Fast and Easy Measurement of Scattering Samples with the Agilent Cary 60 UV-Vis Spectrophotometer</h3>Characterize more samples with your <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=Cary+60+UV-Vis">Cary 60 UV-Vis</a> using a diffuse reflectance accessory<ul><li>Brochure</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/br_cary_60_uv_vis_spectrophotometer_5994_8409en_agilent_d4d6f5cb04.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>The Agilent Cary 60 UV-Vis spectrophotometer is designed for efficient and accurate routine UV-Vis analysis. When working with scattering samples, traditional transmission measurements can lead to signal loss and inaccurate results. By integrating a diffuse reflectance accessory (DRA), the Cary 60 extends its capabilities to measure scattering samples in both reflectance and transmission modes, ensuring reliable data even with challenging sample types.The Cary 60 UV-Vis DRA uses a 50 mm integrating sphere, seamlessly fitting into the instrument’s sample compartment and allowing setup in less than five minutes. With a range of sample holders—including options for thin films, powders, cuvettes, and filters—the accessory provides maximum flexibility. This versatility enables precise analysis of diverse materials such as films, coatings, powders, and liquids.Applications include solar material evaluation, color and gloss analysis of textiles, paints, inks, and pharmaceuticals, as well as quality control of coatings, optical materials, and electronic components. In transmission mode, the DRA is equally effective for analyzing turbid or translucent samples, making it valuable in industries such as food and beverage, environmental monitoring, and polymer science.Paired with the optional Cary WinUV Color software, the system also supports advanced color measurements, automatically generating QA/QC reports based on recognized color standards. This combination makes the Cary 60 UV-Vis a versatile, user-friendly solution for laboratories that require accurate, reproducible results across a wide range of applications.<h3>2. Anton Paar: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=444&amp;search=Ultratap+500">Ultratap 500</a> Series Automated Tapped Density Analyzers</h3>Near-infrared spectroscopy reduces costs and chemical waste<ul><li>Brochure</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/J49_IP_001_EN_B_Brochure_Ultratap_500_Series_screen_51d4a27e59.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=444&amp;search=Ultratap+500">Ultratap 500</a> Series from Anton Paar sets a new benchmark in tapped density analysis, delivering durability, compliance, and user-friendly operation. Each instrument guarantees up to 25 million taps without loss of calibration and comes with a three-year warranty, ensuring reliable performance and long service life. With automated methods and user management, laboratories can eliminate operator error and achieve consistent, reproducible results.Equipped with a touchscreen interface, Ultratap 500 provides instant access to 24 built-in ASTM, ISO, and USP methods, including USP 616. Users can also define custom methods, while automatic calculations of bulk density, tapped density, Carr’s Index, and Hausner Ratio simplify data evaluation. The system stores up to 1,000 reports and 100 methods, ensuring efficient record management.Flexibility is key: the Ultratap 500 accommodates cylinder volumes from 5 mL to 1,000 mL, supported by TruLock straps for secure attachment. The analyzer is also the quietest in its class—90% quieter than comparable models—with an optional noise reduction cabinet reducing sound by up to 99%.Available in single- and dual-station models, the Ultratap 500 Series offers full compliance with major international standards for powders, pharmaceuticals, catalysts, pigments, and more. With global service support, fast response times, and comprehensive warranty options, Ultratap 500 ensures maximum uptime and trusted results across industries.<h3>3. Shimadzu: High-Speed Measurement of Microplastics Smaller than 100 μm Collected on a Filter and Efficient Analysis&nbsp;</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_00994_en_936f28e894.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h5>User Benefits</h5><ul><li>It enables high-speed measurements of microplastics (MPs) smaller than 100 µm that are collected on a filter.</li><li>Particle analysis program can identify the types of MPs and easily analyze color-coded by type and counting the number of MPs.</li><li>In addition to calculating the size of MPs (minor axis, major axis, Feret diameter, and area), it can also estimate the volumes and masses of particles</li></ul>Microplastics (MPs) with diameters ranging from a few µm to 5 mm are widely recognized as an environmental problem in marine environments, and reports of MPs smaller than 100 µm in drinking water are attracting particular attention. 1) To confirm the number and shape of MPs smaller than 100 µm and qualitatively analyze them, samples are usually collected on a filter and observed and measured using an infrared or Raman microscope. For that process, mapping measurements of a specified area is simpler than searching for candidate MPs on the filter and performing point measurements, and it reduces the risk of overlooking particles. However, it is more timeconsuming, and it also requires analyzing the MPs after they are measured to identify the candidates, determine their sizes, aggregate the data, and so on. Therefore, a High-Speed mapping program and particle analysis program were developed to reduce the time required for these measurement and data analysis steps. In this example, High-Speed mapping was used to measure a standard MPs sample, and the particle analysis program was used to analyze the distribution of MPs within the sample.<h4>Measurement Conditions and High-Speed Mapping Program</h4>Measurement conditions are listed in Table 1. Mapping measurements are especially useful for measuring samples with many of target objects in the field of view. Normally, they take longer for larger measurement areas or larger numbers of measurement points, but that can be shortened with the HighSpeed mapping program.&nbsp;The program detects peaks based on data from the first scan at each measurement point and the specified noise level and threshold value settings. If no peak is confirmed, the program moves to the next measurement point. (If a peak is confirmed, the same number of measurements is performed as the number of scans specified.)&nbsp;In this example, a peak detection range of 3,200 to 2,800 cm-1 was specified for detecting the signal from hydrocarbons (C-H), and the data from peaks in that range were scanned the specified number of times.<ul><li>Instruments: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=IRTracer-100">IRTracer-100</a>, AIMsight PF Holder (13 mm dia.)</li></ul><h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>MPs that were collected on a filter were measured using an infrared microscope and the High-Speed mapping program. Because the High-Speed mapping functionality can measure locations in which only candidate MPs are present, samples can be measured faster than with regular mapping methods.&nbsp;And with the particle analysis program, candidate MPs can be specified as components to be analyzed, so particle counts and size distributions within measurement areas can be easily determined. This example also showed that the volume and mass of particles can be estimated.&nbsp;Counting MPs smaller than 100 µm while qualitatively analyzing the particles requires an instrument like an infrared microscope, which enables the High-Speed mapping program or particle analysis program to analyze MPs and MPs data more smoothly.<h3>4. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Rolling over interferences: How triple quadrupole ICP-MS facilitates the analysis of challenging samples for electric vehicles&nbsp;</h3><ul><li>Poster</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/po_001857_tea_electric_icp_ms_ewcps_po001857_em_en_4b2a2ed6a7.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>The continuous development of lithium-ion battery technology is a key step to move away from the combustion of fossil fuels at point of use. Lithium based batteries are the most promising, as they provide high capacity, good cycle stability, at moderate cost. To achieve the intended performance, it is of high importance to assure consistent quality and especially purity of the raw materials used. This includes specifically the cathode material (like binary or ternary alloys containing lithium, cobalt, manganese and nickel) and the electrolyte (lithium hexafluorophosphate and organic compounds), but also other components of the battery. This presentation will provide an overview of how triple quadrupole ICP-MS is able to resolve the analytical challenges encountered when analyzing battery material samples. The presentation will include examples from different components of a battery, including raw materials, electrolytes and cathode materials.<h4>Materials and methods</h4><h5>Instrumentation&nbsp;</h5>A <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1206">Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ TQe ICP-MS system</a> was used for all analyses. To facilitate the direct analysis of highly concentrated solutions, as typically found when working with cathode materials, the instrument was operated using Argon Gas Dilution (AGD) to automatically dilute the sample aerosol using a clean stream of argon gas, delivered directly from the instrument.&nbsp;To achieve the best possible detection limits on typically challenging elements, a slightly different configuration was applied to the same instrument. For these measurements, the instrument was equipped with a PLUS torch, a direct replacement for the standard torch made from a high purity ceramic material. The PLUS torch helps to reduce the backgrounds typically observed for silicon when using quartz torches and is therefore instrumental in achieving the best possible detection limits for this element.<h5>Data Analysis&nbsp;</h5><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1489">Thermo Scientific™ Qtegra™ Intelligent Scientific Data Solution Software</a> was used to operate the instrument and all peripherals, acquire the data and evaluate the results.&nbsp;<h4>Conclusions&nbsp;</h4><ul><li>The use of triple quadrupole ICP-MS and oxygen as a reactive gas provided the advanced performance required for the accurate determination of critical elements, such as arsenic and selenium free from polyatomic interference in a highly complex lithium battery matrix samples showing outstanding analysis performance.&nbsp;</li><li>Triple quadrupole ICP-MS in combination with oxygen as a reactive cell gas is a powerful tool for the analysis of elements having high ionization potentials and numerous spectral interferences.&nbsp;</li><li>Further reduction of the background for silicon is possible when using the PLUS torch, so that significant improvements of the detection limits for silicon can be achieved.</li></ul>

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 36, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 15th September 2025? Check out new documents from the field of spectroscopy/spectrometry and related techniques!<blockquote>👉 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library">SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT SPECTROSCOPY/SPECTROMETRY RELATED TECHNIQUES</a></blockquote><blockquote>👉 Need info about different analytical techniques? Peek into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezLCMS</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezGCMS</a> libraries.</blockquote>This week we bring you application note by Shimadzu and poster by Thermo Fisher Scientific!<h3>1. Shimadzu: Analyzing Microscopic Contaminants Embedded in Recycled Plastic</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_01001_en_79904665ce.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Reusing plastic waste is key to achieving a carbon-neutral society, which is why targets have been established for levels of recycled plastic in plastic products. But quality control of recycled plasticsis essential for maintaining the functional properties of plastic productssince impropersorting, transporting, and processing can all lead to contamination of recycled plastic. Determining the type and quantity of contaminants in recycled plastic is important since they can have a significant negative impact on product performance in certain applications.&nbsp;Shimadzu’s infrared microscopes use high-speed mapping analysis to quickly find and characterize contaminants dispersed in recycled plastic, and Shimadzu’s particulate analysis program also provides a convenient and simple tool for determining the morphology and numbers of contaminants.&nbsp;This Application News describes using this equipment and tools to analyze contaminants in recycled plastic material that was formed into a film.<h4>High-Speed Mapping Analysis of Recycled Plastic</h4>For recycled plastic with a relatively simple infrared spectrum, contaminants embedded in the plastic can be analyzed without removing them from the plastic. This is achieved by configuring wavenumber ranges (exclusion ranges) that exclude the peaks of the recycled plastic in the settings of the high-speed mapping software. In this example, a thermal press was used to form recycled plastic composed of PE and PP into a plastic film approximately 100 µm thick. The high-speed mapping settings were then configured to detect peaks in wavenumber regions that contain hydroxyl groups and carbonyl groups that are not normally found in PE or PP. Table 1 shows the analysis conditions in detail. Background readings were obtained from an area of the film with no contaminants.<ul><li>Equipment: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=IRTracer-100">IRTracer-100</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=AIMsight+">AIMsight</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Software: AMsolution, high-speed mapping software, particle analysis program</li></ul><h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>This Application News describes a simple and rapid method for analyzing and characterizing contaminants in recycled plastic using high-speed mapping analysis with an infrared microscope and data analysis with a particle analysis program. Areas of recycled plastic with no contaminants were scanned once, whereas areas with contaminants were scanned multiple times (50). This allowed a wide area of recycled plastic to be analyzed quickly with minimal noise in the recorded infrared spectra, reducing the analysis time to around just one-fifteenth of the time needed if every part of the recycled plastic was scanned 50 times. Also, using a thermal press to form recycled plastic pellets into a film enabled the efficient characterization of large numbers of contaminants by transmission spectroscopy and the ability to calculate their numbers in the pellets.<h3>2. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Highly sensitive analysis of distillate products per ASTM Method D8110 using single quadrupole ICP-MS</h3><ul><li>Poster</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/po_highly_sensitive_astm_method_d8110_single_quadrupole_icp_ms_po_en_d7c721bc97.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Control of impurities in the petrochemical industry is an essential step to ensure the quality of the crude, intermediates, and finished products. In many laboratories, the analysis of crude, intermediates, and finished products, including light and middle distillates for trace elements, is accomplished using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). However, the regulations and specifications for content of elemental impurities are becoming more stringent, which enforces determination of these impurities at lower concentration levels. Due to its higher sensitivity and specificity, ICP-MS is becoming the technology of choice for laboratories. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) issues standard D8110 that outlines the specifications and test method for elemental analysis of distillate products by ICP-MS. Analysis of combustible organic samples like naphtha, vacuum gas oil (VGO), or aviation turbine fuel (ATF) using ICP-MS could be challenging compared to conventional aqueous samples mainly because unexpected and intermittent extinguishing of plasma as well as carbon deposition in the interface region extracting ions into the mass spectrometer. The direct introduction of volatile organics increases the plasma load due to their high vapor pressure, causes destabilization of plasma and results in poor sensitivity and precision of measurements. Carbon-based interference on key analytes, such as chromium or vanadium, cause additional concerns but can typically be overcome using kinetic energy discrimination (KED) on single quadrupole instruments, or other typical gases used in collision/reaction cells1 . This poster discusses a complete workflow developed using the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1487">Thermo Scientific iCAP MSX ICP-MS</a> (Figure 1) for the sensitive determination of elemental impurities in typical distillate samples including light naphtha, heavy naphtha, and crude oil samples.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>An analytical method was developed with single quadrupole ICP-MS (iCAP MSX ICP-MS) for elemental analysis of a range of typical petroleum samples with varying physical and chemical properties.<h5>Data Analysis&nbsp;</h5>The data acquisition and processing were done using <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1489">Thermo Scientific Qtegra Intelligent Scientific Data Solution (ISDS) Software</a>.<h4>Conclusions&nbsp;</h4>The results obtained from the experiments described in this application note demonstrate the following:&nbsp;<ul><li>The proposed method and instrument set-up for elemental analysis of different petroleum products using the iCAP MSX ICP-MS represents a viable solution for laboratories performing oil and refinery product testing.&nbsp;</li><li>The combination of the sample introduction system together with a uniquely robust plasma generation system and a powerful CRC allows for sensitive analysis and comprehensive interference removal for all elements commonly analyzed in the industry.&nbsp;</li><li>The use of KED with helium provided effective for removal of polyatomic interferences commonly observed in such challenging matrices, as was demonstrated by the detection limits and blank equivalent concentrations (BECs) achieved.&nbsp;</li><li>The method therefore allows the accurate and precise determination of a total of 28 elements in different kinds of distillate products, as was demonstrated by the results obtained in the spike recovery test.&nbsp;</li><li>If needed, other reactive gases can be used in a multi-mode analysis performed during a single aspiration of a sample, including alternative cell gases such as hydrogen. Thanks to the fast gas switching in the QCell CRC, the added time for switching cell gases is often negligible for the overall analysis time per sample.&nbsp;</li><li>The novel design of the sample introduction system of the iCAP MSX ICP-MS allows to easily switch between oxygen addition and the use of argon gas dilution without the need to change gas connections.</li></ul>

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 38, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 22nd September 2025? Check out new documents from the field of spectroscopy/spectrometry and related techniques!<blockquote>👉 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library">SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT SPECTROSCOPY/SPECTROMETRY RELATED TECHNIQUES</a></blockquote><blockquote>👉 Need info about different analytical techniques? Peek into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezLCMS</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezGCMS</a> libraries.</blockquote>This week we bring you application notes by Agilent Technologies and Shimadzu and poster by Thermo Fisher Scientific!<h3>1. Agilent Technologies: Protein Glycosylation Analysis Using the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=Cary+630+FTIR">Agilent Cary 630 FTIR</a> Spectrometer</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_ftir_glycosylation_cary_630_5994_8540en_agilent_614efd9fb4.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Protein glycosylation is a crucial post-translational modification (PTM) impacting the efficacy, stability, and integrity of therapeutic proteins, including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and other biopharmaceuticals. This process involves attaching sugar molecules, or glycans, to specific amino acid residues on proteins. Glycosylation is classified as a critical quality attribute (CQA) and has important functions in biological processes, impacting protein structure, solubility, and ability to resist proteolytic degradation.1 Therefore, monitoring and controlling glycosylation is essential in developing and producing therapeutic proteins.Various analytical techniques are employed to monitor glycosylation in biopharmaceutical production. These techniques include FTIR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and lectin arrays. However, most of these techniques require time-consuming complex sample preparation steps. Alternatively, FTIR is a robust analytical technique that provides a fast and easy tool for protein research. It is a nondestructive technique used to study protein molecules under different experimental conditions. The building blocks of glycans (monosaccharide/sugars), amide groups of protein, and water molecules produce distinguishable fingerprint absorption bands in FTIR. It has also been used to monitor the carbohydrate content and glycosylation profiles in&nbsp;glycoproteins.2,3&nbsp;In this study, we used an Agilent Cary 630 FTIR spectrometer to demonstrate an FTIR spectroscopy method for protein glycosylation analysis. The results show that FTIR spectra of glycoproteins provide an FTIR signal corresponding to the glycosylation profile, allowing a rapid, nondestructive analysis method with minimal sample preparation.<h4>Experimental&nbsp;</h4><h5>Instrumentation&nbsp;</h5>The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=Cary+630+FTIR">Cary 630 FTIR spectrometer </a>was fitted with a single reflection diamond attenuated total reflection (ATR) module. Data acquisition was carried out with an Agilent MicroLab software using the parameters shown in Table 1.<h4>Results and discussion&nbsp;</h4>Proteins exhibit characteristic amide absorption bands in FTIR spectroscopy, which are related to secondary structure and confirmation. The amide I band (1,600 to 1,800 cm–1) and amide II band (1,470 to 1,570 cm–1) result from the absorption of the carbonyl and N-H group.&nbsp;Glycosylation is one of the common PTMs that occur in biopharmaceuticals. Carbohydrates linked to glycoproteins have an absorption band distinct from the protein amide region. The infrared (IR) absorption of glycan spans broadly in the 1,200 to 950 cm–1 region where proteins have very low signal intensity. It has been demonstrated that the amount of carbohydrates in the glycoprotein correlates with the intensity of these spectral bands.3&nbsp;In this study, various glycosylated proteins with different levels of glycosylation were selected to evaluate the FTIR method. The formulated mAbs contain excipients that can exhibit absorption bands, and these signals may interfere with glycan analysis in the 1,200 to 950 cm–1 region. Therefore, mAb samples were buffer-exchanged with water using spin columns. Figure 3 shows the comparison of FTIR spectra of formulated and buffer-exchanged mAbs. The desalting step is necessary to eliminate buffer interference with the glycosylation measurement.<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>This application note demonstrates the simplicity and usability of glycosylation analysis using an Agilent Cary 630 FTIR spectrometer. The FTIR method provides a spectral variation related to the global glycosylation level of protein, removing the necessity for extensive sample preparation or labeling. It provides a signal corresponding to the glycan profile that allows the identification of glycoproteins and enables rapid comparative glycosylation analysis between innovator and biosimilar therapeutic proteins. The user‑friendly Agilent MicroLab Expert software streamlines data processing and shortens time to results. The technique may be used to verify batch consistency and product quality during the protein production process. Its capability for quick glycosylation estimation makes it an excellent fit for protein quality control workflows. In summary, the FTIR approach provides numerous advantages, including minimal sample preparation, reduced analysis time, and the capacity to analyze intact glycoproteins<h3>2. Shimadzu: Peel Test for Cathode Materials of Lithium-Ion Batteries in a Thermostatic Chamber</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_00944_en_88bbab3581.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h5>User Benefits</h5><ul><li>A thermostatic chamber makes it possible to measure the adhesion force of cathode materials in actual temperature environments.&nbsp;</li><li>A copper foil peeling test device enables to conduct peel tests while maintaining a 90° angle in a thermostatic chamber.&nbsp;</li><li>By using a load cell with a wider accuracy guarantee range than a conventional one, it is possible to conduct high-accuracy tests even with small test forces.</li></ul>Lithium-ion batteries play an important role in various electronic devices due to their high energy density and excellent charging efficiency. To improve battery performance, materials and processing methods are actively being developed, and strength measurement is one of the essential evaluation methods. This Application News focuses on the adhesion strength of the electrode sheets used as battery electrodes. Fig. 1 shows the structure of an electrode sheet. An electrode sheet consists of an electrode material that adheres to a current collector, through which electrons move. The electrode material is composed of a cathode active material such as lithium iron phosphate and an insulating material known as a binder. When the adhesion between the electrode material and the current collector is weak, the electrode material may delaminate from the current collector, preventing electrons from moving in the electrode sheet and increasing the electrical resistance. Therefore, evaluating the adhesion strength is important for improving battery performance. In this application, test equipment, test conditions, and results of the peel test for battery cathode materials are described. The temperature dependence of the adhesion strength of the electrode materialsis also described.<ul><li>Testing Machine: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=AGS-V">Precision Universal Testing Machine AGS-V</a></li></ul><h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>Peel tests in a thermostatic chamber were conducted using an AGS-V and TCE-N300A for Lithium iron phosphate used as cathode sheet of lithium-ion batteries. From the test results, it was confirmed that the adhesion force between the cathode active material and the aluminum foil increased as the temperature increased. This measurement can easily evaluate the temperature dependence of mechanical characteristics of battery cathodes. This method is expected to be applied to solve problems for improving battery performance.<h3>3. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Assessing the level and distribution of trace elements in individual cells using single cell ICP-MS analysis</h3><ul><li>Poster</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/po_001851_tea_cells_icp_ms_ewcps_po001851_em_en_826dff968d.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Trace elements play a key role in many processes involved in living beings. Some elements are found as constituent elements in biopolymers, such as phosphorous as part of the DNA backbone, or sulfur, as part of the key amino acids methionine and cysteine involved in the formation of proteins covering a wide variety of functions. Other elements (in particular, the transition elements copper, iron, and zinc) are involved in specific functions, such as acting as co-factors in enzymes. However, the distribution of trace elements cannot be assumed to be homogeneous across a cell cohort, even under ideal conditions. Ultimately, cell-tocell variability of the metal content may be an important factor in understanding biological diversity. The analysis of specific biomarkers at the single cell level has therefore gained significant interest in recent years.&nbsp;The analysis of the content of a given metal at the single cell level has remained a challenge. While inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is well known as a powerful and element-selective detection system, it is only recently that its capacity for analyzing individual cells has been recognized.<h4>Methods</h4>A <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1206">triple quadrupole ICP-MS system</a>, in conjunction with the scQuant plug-in for <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1489">Thermo Scientific™ Qtegra™ Intelligent Scientific Data Solution software</a> was used for all measurements.<h4>Conclusions&nbsp;</h4>This poster highlights how ICP-MS operated in the single cell mode can determine the amount of different trace elements in individual cells and can therefore allow not only assessment of the average element mass per cell, but also the element distribution across the cohort.&nbsp;<ul><li>Scanning for multiple elements is possible using a sequential approach, in which all the elements of interest are measured for an identical period in a single aspiration of a sample, and the results are summarized in a single data set.&nbsp;</li><li>The scQuant plug-in allows integrated control over sample delivery devices, in this case, a syringe pump, to facilitate a stable sample flow at the required low flow rates.&nbsp;</li><li>Key method parameters, such as detection sensitivity and transport efficiency can be determined as part of the same Qtegra ISDS Software LabBook or can be independently determined (if no suitable standards are available) and applied to a data set.&nbsp;</li><li>The data visualization features of the scQuant plug-in allow raw data and intermediate data (signal distribution) to be comprehensively evaluated, as well as enabling representation of results in either a histogram or a box plot. All results can be exported in a spreadsheet compatible format if required.</li></ul>

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 39, 2025

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18th Mass Spectrometry School in Biotechnology and Medicine

28th International Symposium on Advances in Extraction Technologies (ExTech 2026)

17th European Workshop on Laser Ablation (EWLA 2026)

Lunch and Learn Tips and Tricks Series: Trace Elemental Analysis (ICP-OES & ICP-MS)

Expanding the 4D‑STEM toolbox for advanced materials characterization

Microwave Digestion: The Foundation of Accurate Trace Metal Analysis