Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in week 50, 2024? Check out new documents from the field of spectroscopy, especially ICP/MS techniques!<blockquote>👉 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library">SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT ICPMS AND 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 applications by Agilent Technologies, Shimadzu, and Thermo Fisher Scientific!<h4>1. Thermo Fisher Scientific: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_003165_tea_icp_ms_icap_msx_water_bureau_of_indian_standards_an003165_na_en_891819730a.pdf">Multielement analysis of drinking water samples as per regulations from the Bureau of Indian Standards using ICP-MS</a></h4><ul><li>Application</li></ul>GoalTo demonstrate the performance of the Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ MSX ICP-MS for analysis of a variety of water samples, including surface waters, groundwaters, and drinking waters, following the Indian Standards’ specifications.IntroductionThe quality of drinking water refers to its safety, purity, and suitability for human consumption. It is essential that drinking water meets specific standards and guidelines to ensure it does not pose any health risks to individuals who consume it. Drinking waters are regularly monitored for the content of different elements, in particular highly toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead, which are severely detrimental for human and environmental health. The regulations applicable for testing and assuring water quality in India are as follows:<ul><li>IS 10500:2012 Drinking water - Specification</li><li>IS 13428:2005 Packaged Natural Mineral Water - Specification</li><li>IS 14543:2004 Packaged Drinking Water - Specification</li></ul>These regulations specify stringent maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) of different toxic and some nutritional elements in drinking water samples, as listed in Table 1.Drinking water samples must be regularly monitored to ensure that they comply with these regulations. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a powerful technique for analyzing a wide range of analytes in given samples, providing superior sensitivity that enables the reliable detection of very low concentrations of analytes in water samples. Additionally, a high robustness of the ICP-MS system is also a desired feature because it helps analytical testing laboratories, carrying out analysis of different drinking water samples regularly, to cope with a high sample load and deliver accurate results on time. While drinking water samples are usually low in Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) content, different drinking waters may be fortified with varying amounts of nutrient elements to increase their nutritional values. When analyzing a mix of such different samples, Argon Gas Dilution (AGD) offers a comprehensive solution for effective handling of a variety of sample types including those with high TDS in one analytical run. In addition, AGD helps to avoid off-line liquid sample dilution, which in turn saves associated labor and cost, and minimizes the risk of contamination, while still delivering consistent results with minimum matrix effects.This application note describes the analysis of different drinking water samples using the iCAP MSX ICP-MS operated with AGD as a tool to facilitate sample dilution directly during sample introduction.ConclusionThis application note highlights the ease and effectiveness of using the iCAP MSX ICP-MS in combination with the iSC-65 Autosampler for routine monitoring of water quality in terms of elemental composition. The method described involves a 5-fold dilution of all samples using AGD (Argon Gas Dilution) for the sensitive and reliable elemental analysis across different drinking water samples. By utilizing this approach, accurate and precise results can be obtained for routine water quality monitoring. The instrument performance exceeds the requirements of analytical testing laboratories tasked with the analysis of different water and other environmental samples. The main conclusions are summarized below.<ul><li>The use of Argon Gas Dilution, the availability of different dilution levels, and accomplishing dilution automatically inside the instrument with no additional sample handling required reduces time and effort spent in preparing samples and helps achieve seamless measurements of drinking water samples. The AGD features are easy to set up and operate and are fully integrated and supported in the Qtegra ISDS Software.</li><li>Excellent linearity was achieved for all analytes due to the large linear dynamic range of the iCAP MSX ICP-MS, which allows for precise determination of major elements and trace elements with low and high concentrations in one measurement without further sample dilution. The LODs of the different analytes demonstrate that the instrument easily meets and exceeds the sensitivity requirements specified in local regulations pertaining to water analysis.</li><li>Robust and stable analytical performance with exceptional signal stability was demonstrated over a 12-hour uninterrupted sequence.</li></ul><h4>2. Shimadzu: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/a421_0b334306a3.pdf">Infrared Spectra of Polyvinyl Chloride</a></h4><ul><li>Application</li></ul>User BenefitsPVC can be qualitatively determined by checking specific peaks, and the presence of PVC can be confirmed even when the amount of additive is very large.Since PVC has few peaks in the fingerprint region, it is easy to qualitatively identify the additives contained in PVC.IntroductionPolyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a synthetic thermoplastic polymer with excellent water resistance, acid resistance, alkali resistance, electrical nonconductivity, and flame resistance, and is used in a wide variety of applications, including film, synthetic leather, fibers, wire coating, rope, and toys, to name a few. Various types of additives such as plasticizers, stabilizers, and fillers can be added to this PVC resin, so that the final PVC product can be either rigid or soft, depending on the amount of plasticizer added. Various types of plasticizers, for example di-2-ethyl hexyl phthalate (dioctyl phthalate), have been added to PVC at concentrations higher than 10 % to produce soft PVC. Since PVC displays relatively weak infrared absorption, PVC that contains a large amount of phthalic ester is strongly affected by that substance, displaying an infrared spectrum which is more similar in shape to the phthalic ester than PVC. For this reason, many soft PVC samples have shown the similar type of infrared spectrum as the phthalic ester. However, due to concerns about the adverse health affects of these phthalic ester plasticizers, including their carcinogenicity, their application and content levels are regulated. Consequently, soft PVC containing various types of plasticizers instead of those containing phthalic esters are currently being marketed.Since soft PVC containing a large amount of plasticizer displays an infrared spectrum that is greatly affected by the plasticizer, a variety of infrared spectral shapes are seen with soft PVC. Here we introduce and discuss the infrared spectra of this type of soft PVC.ConclusionIn this application, we analyzed PVC containing various plasticizers using the ATR method and demonstrated that the C-Cl stretching vibration near 610 cm-1 is important for identifying PVC. By checking the infrared spectrum using FTIR, it is possible to easily perform qualitative analysis of plasticizers used in soft PVC.<h4>3. Agilent Technologies: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_uv_vis_nir_spectroscopy_band_gap_analysis_semiconducting_materials_5994_7854en_agilent_0ab9ab5fa9.pdf">Determination of Band Gap in Metal Oxides Using UV-Vis Spectroscopy</a></h4><ul><li>Application</li></ul>IntroductionThe band gap of semiconducting materials plays a critical role in shaping their performance across various electronic and optoelectronic applications. UV-Vis spectroscopy stands as an efficient method for evaluating these band gaps, providing insights into the electronic structure of materials. This understanding is pivotal in refining materials used in fields such as photocatalysis and solar energy conversion.1UV-Vis spectroscopy measures the absorbance or reflectance of materials over a range of wavelengths. When the energy of incident photons matches or exceeds the band gap energy, electrons transition from the valence band to the conduction band, leading to distinctive absorption characteristics.This application note investigates band gap analysis using UV-Vis spectroscopy, and presents a detailed methodology for precise and dependable measurements by leveraging the capabilities of the Agilent Cary 5000 UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer and Agilent Cary WinUV software.ConclusionThe findings of this study highlight the efficacy of using the Agilent Cary 5000 UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer combined with Agilent Cary WinUV software for accurate and reliable band gap analysis of semiconducting materials. The integration of the Praying Mantis diffuse reflectance accessory ensured reproducible sample positioning and measurements. The use of the first derivative of wavelength scans, facilitated by the software's built-in calculator function, proved to be a streamlined and precise method for determining band gaps. The band gap values obtained were consistent with established literature, confirming the validity of this approach. This methodology offers a robust and efficient tool for researchers working in fields such as photocatalysis and solar energy conversion, enabling precise characterization of electronic structures in various materials.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 50, 2024

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 6th January 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 applications by ALS Europe, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Agilent Technologies and Shimadzu!<h4>1. ALS Europe: Precision and Detail Ensured by Scanning Electron Microscopy</h4><ul><li>Technical note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/enviromail_19_europe_precision_and_detail_ensured_by_scanning_electron_microscopy_july2024_f03db63b86.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>A Scanning Electron Microscope equipped with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) represents a powerful tool and robust analytical technique that offers an extensive array of data regarding the microstructural and compositional attributes of a diverse spectrum of materials. ALS Laboratories are equipped with a modern scanning electron microscope Tescan VEGA 3 LMU with an energy-dispersive detector (EDS) Oxford X-Max 20. It is an ideal technique for surface inspection, identification of the elemental composition of unknown particles in a sample, or advanced determination of particle size or type distribution.<h5>Elemental Analysis</h5>An effective complement to the microscope itself is the aforementioned EDS detector, which can detect characteristic X-rays and assign them to specific elements. The latest systems are capable of detecting elements heavier than boron, i.e., elements with an atomic number &gt;5. The Oxford AZtec X-Max 20 EDS detector in our laboratories can very quickly confirm or exclude the presence of elements heavier than beryllium (excluding hydrogen, helium, and lithium). The result is a spectrum from which the composition of the examined particle can be determined. This capability can be utilised, for example, to compare the sample material with a supplied standard or to observe changes occurring in the sample when exposed to various processes and conditions.<h5>Feature Analysis</h5>Using the software module "Feature Analysis," it is possible to automatically analyse a large number of particles in terms of morphology, chemical composition, or a combination of both. A significant advantage over common techniques such as laser diffraction is the ability to directly image the analysed particles. The particles can be sorted entirely automatically, either by morphology, by defining parameters such as length, area, shape, etc., or by chemical composition, for example, whether they contain a specific element or not. The outputs can include various graphs and tables (see Figures 4 (A/B).The most common analyses in ALS Laboratories include: the anti-corrosion coating of car parts, the specification of foreign particles, a very frequent analysis is an identification of deposits on filters, identification of sediments, or stains, and defects on the surface of various materials and products. SEM-EDS analysis is also often an integral part of production processes, where quality control of intermediate and final products is crucial.<h4>2. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Analysis of photovoltaic grade silicon using triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)</h4><ul><li>Application</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_003016_tea_icp_ms_icap_mtx_photovoltaics_an003016_em_en_27bac73d30.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>To demonstrate a robust and accurate analytical method for the determination of bulk and trace elements in photovoltaic samples using triple quadrupole ICP-MS<h5>Introduction</h5>Development of renewable and low-carbon energy sources has become critical in addressing global concerns related to carbon emissions and climate change. One key technology in achieving the reduction of CO2 emissions while ensuring a stable and reliable energy supply is the use of photovoltaic (PV) technology. PV technology harnesses the natural energy from the sun and converts it into electrical power, emits zero CO2, and enhances energy security. Additionally, PV solar cells are predominantly composed of silicon, an abundant resource on Earth, making the transition to PV energy a viable option as a primary source of electricity, aligning with the move towards climate-friendly energy resources.However, it is important to acknowledge that PV also has certain drawbacks, including susceptibility to damage, dependence on sunlight, and associated costs. To address these concerns, it is crucial to focus on developing innovative solutions that result in durable products, increased energy efficiency, and degradation prevention.<h5>Experimental optimization of the instrument parameters</h5>An <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1488">iCAP MTX ICP-MS</a>, operated together with a Thermo Scientific™ iSC-65 Autosampler, was used for all analyses. The sample introduction system consisted of a Peltier-cooled (at 2.7 °C) and dedicated HF sample introduction kit consisting of a baffled PFA cyclonic spray chamber (Savillex, Eden Prairie, MN, USA), PFA concentric nebulizer (Savillex), and PLUS torch1 with a 2.0 mm i.d. removable sapphire injector. The built-in argon humidifier was used for moisturizing the nebulizer gas to prevent salt deposit on the nebulizer tip, along with integrated argon gas dilution.&nbsp;To further increase uptime of the instrument, intelligent matrix handling was used, a unique feature of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products?instrumentationItems=83&amp;search=MSX+MTX">Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ MX Series ICP-MS instruments</a> to reduce exposure to sample matrix during sample uptake and wash. Interferences on all analytes were effectively controlled using the QCell collision/reaction cell (CRC) and leveraging the superior interference removal capabilities of a triple quadrupole ICP-MS instrument. In addition to the use of O2 as a reactive gas in triple quadrupole mode for highly interfered analytes such as phosphorus, sulfur, arsenic and selenium, the instrument was also operated in single quadrupole mode using helium and kinetic energy discrimination (KED) for interference free analysis of other analytes over the full mass range. Table 1 summarizes the instrument configuration and analytical parameters.The selection of the most appropriate isotopes per analyte, as well as the optimum analysis conditions (i.e., KED mode versus reactive gas, on mass mode versus mass shift mode) was automatically accomplished using the Reaction Finder Method Development Assistant available 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>. Measurement modes were optimized using the provided autotune procedures.The iSC-65 Autosampler allowed for the use of Step Ahead functionality to shorten the overall measurement time per sample and increase the number of samples that can be analyzed per unit time.<h4>3. Agilent Technologies: ICP-OES Analysis of Electrolytes for All-Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries</h4><ul><li>Application</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/application_v_flow_battery_icp_oes_5800_5994_7968en_agilent_1_563bab0388.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Quantification of impurity elements in vanadium sulfate electrolytes using an Agilent 5800 VDV ICP-OES.The detrimental effects of burning fossil fuels on the climate, environment, and air quality are driving the shift towards cleaner and more sustainable sources of energy. However, challenges remain for the renewable energy sector, as both wind and solar power can be intermittent, leading to fluctuations in energy generation. To offset the uncontrollable nature of these weather-based technologies, there is increasing demand for large-scale energy storage solutions to balance the requirements of energy grids. Addressing these challenges is crucial for achieving sustainable, reliable, and secure systems that can meet both current and future energy needs.Compared to traditional batteries, which store energy in the electrodes, flow batteries are electrochemical (redox) systems that store and release energy through chemical reactions within the electrolyte. This mechanism means that the capacity and power of flow batteries can be tailored separately, providing scalability and long lifespans. This flexibility makes them suitable for grid-scale energy storage and backup power systems.<h5>Instrumentation</h5>Elemental analysis of the samples was carried out using the Agilent 5800 VDV ICP-OES. The instrument was fitted with a SeaSpray glass concentric nebulizer, double-pass cyclonic spray chamber, and an Easy-fit fully demountable torch with 1.8 mm quartz injector.Agilent ICP Expert software was used to control the 5800 ICP-OES, optimize and run the method, and to process the data.<h5>Automatic background correction</h5>The Fitted Background Correction (FBC) routine within the ICP Expert software was used for all elements in this study. FBC uses a sophisticated mathematical algorithm to automatically model and subtract simple and complex background structures produced by non-analyte signals.<h5>Conclusion</h5>The Agilent 5800 VDV ICP-OES successfully determined 11 impurity elements in four all-vanadium flow battery electrolytes—an important quality control application within the battery production process. The main advantages of the analytical method include:<ul><li>Good calibration linearity (R&gt;0.9999) and low method detection limits (&lt;0.09 mg/L) for all target analytes.</li><li>Confirmation of the method’s accuracy demonstrated by 94 to 103% recoveries of 0.5 mg/L spikes added to one of the commercial vanadium sulfate electrolyte samples.</li><li>Recovery of all elements within 100 ±10% indicating that the 5800 can tolerate the high concentration of vanadium in the electrolyte samples, due to its robust vertical plasma and SSRF generator.</li><li>Excellent instrument stability, as shown by the precision of repeated measurements of a commercial electrolyte sample over four hours (RSDs &lt; 2.3%).</li></ul>The 5800 VDV ICP-OES method is suitable for the accurate quantification of some key impurity elements in electrolytes used in all-vanadium flow batteries, in accordance with China standard method GB/T 37204-2018.<h4>4. Shimadzu: Observation of Rubber Fatigue Testing Specimens Using Two Types of X-Ray CT Systems</h4><ul><li>Application</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_00740_en_9631abda15.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h5>User Benefits</h5><ul><li>The volume and shape of individual micro-defects in rubber can be observed in detail using a microfocus X-ray CT system.</li><li>The approximate position and size of microcracks can be determined efficiently using a phase-contrast X-ray CT system.</li><li>The progression status of defects and cracks in rubber can be compared at respective cycle counts of fatigue testing.</li></ul>Rubber products serve an important role in a wide range of fields, such as automotive tires, industrial products, and medical devices. However, functional losses can occur due to fatigue and aging after long periods of use. Therefore, evaluating the durability of rubber is an important issue.In order to evaluate the progression of defects during usage, rubber must be inspected before it fails. It can be inspected by cutting it apart, but non-destructive inspections are preferable due to the disadvantages of destructive inspections, such as the inability to restore specimens after inspections and the limitation of only being able to evaluate cut surfaces.Internal defects can be detected and three-dimensionally observed using an X-ray CT system. One X-ray imaging method typically used is absorption imaging, which generates images based on the quantity of X-rays absorbed. Another method is phase imaging, which is a new unconventional method that generates images based on variations in the phase of X-rays. This article describes using two types of instruments based on those different imaging methods to observe rubber during fatigue testing (Table 1).<h5>Conclusion</h5>Specimens for testing rubber fatigue were scanned using two types of X-ray imaging systems, a microfocus X-ray CT system and a phase-contrast X-ray CT system. By stretching samples, magnified images were acquired by the inspeXio SMX-225CT FPD HR Plus X-ray CT inspection system, and even small defects could be observed in detail and defect volume and count values compared at respective cycle count levels. The Xctal 5000 can determine the approximate orientation, size, and depth of microcracks without stretching samples or using magnified imaging. Both instruments can inspect items non-destructively, and the same specimen can be used to understand the progression of defects and cracks at any number of cycles. The characteristics of these instruments for scanning and analyzing data from specimens tested for rubber fatigue are indicated in Table 7.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 2, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 13th January 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 applications by ALS Europe, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Agilent Technologies and Shimadzu!<h4>1. ALS Europe:&nbsp;Isotope Ratio Analysis Solves Complex Problems</h4><ul><li>Technical note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/paper/28592">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>ALS Laboratories are one of the few in the world to offer commercial isotope ratio testing services not only for radiogenic systems (Sr, Nd, Pu, U) and light stable isotopes (Li, B, Si), but also for heavy stable elements such as Ag, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mo, Si, and Zn.All of these isotope ratio tests can be used as a fingerprint to provide information about origin or geological age, and have potential to be used for tracing pollution and exposure sources.<h5>ALS Capabilities for Isotope Ratio Analysis</h5>ALS experts have more than 30 years of research and commercial testing experience for stable isotope ratio analysis using both High Resolution Sector Field ICP-MS (ICP-SFMS) and Multi-Collector ICP-MS (MC-ICP-MS) instrumentation. Our expert team has made substantial contributions to the field of isotope ratio analysis with 170 peer-reviewed publications. ALS laboratories offer isotope ratio analyses for more than 20 stable and radiogenic isotopic systems in a variety of sample matrices with high precision, even where sample concentrations are very low.<h4>2. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Highly sensitive and reliable analysis of distillate products as per ASTM Method D8110 using single quadrupole ICP-MS</h4><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/paper/28389">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>The goal of this application note is to demonstrate the performance of an analytical method for routine analysis of typical samples relevant to the petrochemical industry, including starting materials such as crude oil but also products such as naphtha, with different boiling ranges using single quadrupole ICP-MS following the guidelines provided in ASTM Method D8110 Standard Test Method for Elemental Analysis of Distillate Products by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).<h5>Conclusions</h5>The results obtained from the experiments described in this application note demonstrate the following:<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.</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. A common sample preparation method encompassing simple dilution of any products with either higher viscosity or lower boiling point in PremiSolv offers complete flexibility for the analysis of a variety of based petroleum sample matrices.</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.</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.</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.</li></ul>Taken together, the results obtained demonstrate that the proposed analytical method can be used in routine laboratories to achieve high-throughput, robust, and reliable analytical results with minimum downtime of the system.<h4>3. Agilent Technologies: Improved Lab Efficiency with the Agilent 18-Cell Changer Accessory</h4><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/paper/26590">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Evaluation of an Agilent Cary 60 UV-Vis spectrophotometer workflow using the 18-cell changer accessory<h5>Introduction</h5>In laboratory settings, time is of the essence. The speed at which any experiment can be conducted is important, and any advantages that can improve speed are critical. It is equally important that analytical workflows are optimized for maximum instrument use and minimal operator interaction.The Agilent Cary 60 UV-Vis spectrophotometer is a flexible, powerful, and reliable UV-Vis system, ideal for routine analysis. To further improve workflow efficiency, the Cary 60 UV-Vis can be equipped with the Agilent 18-cell changer accessory. The 18-cell changer can measure up to 18 cuvettes in sequence, without any user interaction.This technical overview compares a Cary 60 UV-Vis workflow using the 18-cell changer accessory versus a single-cell holder accessory to evaluate differences in terms of analysis time, data quality, user interaction, ease of use, and efficiency.<h5>Conclusion</h5>In summary, the Agilent 18-cell changer accessory for the Agilent Cary 60 UV-Vis spectrophotometer provides a range of benefits to laboratories and technicians alike. Compared to a single-cell holder, it dramatically increases efficiency by reducing the time taken to complete experiments and limiting the need for operator interaction, all without compromising the quality of results.<h4>4. Shimadzu: Sensitivity Evaluation and Example Analysis of Microscopic Targets with Thermoelectrically Cooled MCT Detector</h4><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/paper/28644">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h5>User Benefits</h5><ul><li>A thermoelectrically cooled MCT detector can measure microscopic targets down to 25 μm in size without needing liquid nitrogen.</li><li>An MCT detector is compatible with transmission, reflection, and ATR method for analyzing a range of sample types.</li><li>For targets smaller than 25 μm, the standard T2SL detector can measure targets down to 10 μm in size with good sensitivity.</li></ul><h5>Introduction</h5>Infrared spectroscopy is extremely useful for qualitative analysis of organic compounds and some inorganic compounds. Infrared microscopy can be used for spectroscopic analysis of microscopic targets that are otherwise difficult to analyze. The AIMsight Infrared Microscope and the infrared mode of the AIRsight Infrared/Raman Microscope are equipped as standard with the T2SL detector, which can analyze microscopic targets down to 10 μm in size if it is cooled with liquid nitrogen. However, the difficulties associated with procuring and handling liquid nitrogen mean there is increasing demand for infrared spectroscopic analysis of microscopic targets without using liquid nitrogen.The thermoelectrically cooled (TEC) MCT detector is a new optional detector in Shimadzu’s product lineup that can analyze microscopic targets down to 25 μm in size without liquid nitrogen. This Application News compares this new detector with existing detectors and presents two example analyses of microscopic targets using the new detector.<h5>Conclusion</h5>This Application News compares the sensitivity of the new TEC MCT detector with existing detectors and presents two example analyses performed using the TEC MCT detector. The comparisons show the TEC MCT detector, which operates without liquid nitrogen, can measure targets as small as 25 μm with good sensitivity, and it is compatible with reflection and ATR spectroscopy as well as transmission spectroscopy for analysis of a range of sample types.The T2SL detector, which requires liquid nitrogen, is recommended when analyzing targets smaller than 25 μm or when using fewer scans to shorten the analysis time. However, the minimum target size for infrared spectroscopic analysis with the T2SL detector is 10 μm, so targets smaller than 10 μm, Raman spectroscopy with the AIRsight infrared/Raman microscope should be used.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 3, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 20th January 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 applications by Shimadzu, Agilent Technologies and Thermo Fisher Scientific!<h4>1. Shimadzu: TOC Analysis for Evaluation of Plastics and Other Organic Materials in Contact with Drinking Water</h4><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/paper/28646">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h5>User Benefits</h5><ul><li>TOC analysis helps ensure compliance with EU regulations for materials in contact with drinking water, protecting public health and maintaining high water quality standards.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?instrumentationItems=103&amp;mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=TOC-L+CPH">TOC-L </a>supports a comprehensive analysis capable of testing a wide range of components, thus helping to obtain conformity certification for the hygienic suitability of products in contact with drinking water.</li></ul><h5>Introduction</h5>Ensuring the purity of drinking water during production and distribution is a critical requirement. Quality standards are defined by the European Union in the Drinking Water Directive (EU) 2020/2184, where Article 11 specifically addresses materials that come into contact with water (Table 1) . These materials must not adversely affect human health, alter the taste, color or odor of the water, contribute to microbial growth or release significant quantities of contaminants. In essence, no extractable substances from these materials should contaminate drinking water. Therefore, the technical and hygienic suitability of products in contact with drinking water must be verified by laboratory tests.Article 11 (EU) of 2020/2184 is essentially based on the "4 Member States Initiative" (4MSI) common approach for organic materials. One guideline that has dealt with this topic to date is the KTW guideline (German for Plastics - Drinking Water) from the German Federal Environment Agency. It was used for the hygienic assessment of organic materials in contact with drinking water and describes the requirements that plastics must meet in this context. As guidelines tend to be of a recommendatory nature, the EU has obliged its member states to specifically regulate the requirements for materials in contact with drinking water. Accordingly, the Federal Environment Agency published the KTW-BWGL (Plastics Drinking Water Assessment Guideline) in March 2019. It officially replaced the previous recommendations of the KTW guideline.<h4>2.&nbsp;Agilent Technologies: Agilent 8800 ICP-QQQ Upgrades</h4><ul><li>Other</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/paper/28650">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Upgrading your 8800 to an Agilent 8900 provides a seamless transition, as the new instrument can replace your existing 8800 with minimal disruption to your lab’s operations:<ul><li>Existing laboratory services – power, exhaust vent, and gas supplies – will still be suitable</li><li>Major peripherals such as the ASX and SPS 4 autosamplers and water chiller/recirculator can still be used</li><li>Many consumables (torches, sampling cones, tubing) are compatible</li><li>Upgrading also gives you access to the latest in ICP-QQQ technology as well as the upgraded UHMI High Matrix Introduction system1.</li></ul><h5>Upgrading your Agilent 8800 ICP-QQQ</h5>For a limited time, Agilent is offering 8800 Series ICP-QQQ users the opportunity to upgrade their ICP-QQQ instrumentation to the latest, high-performance, Agilent triple quadrupole ICP-QQQ. The Agilent 8900 is the ideal replacement for your 8800, as it provides continuity of analytical capability but with even better performance. The 8900 is also compatible with your existing bench space and lab services.With the 8900, there is no need to compromise the unmatched matrix tolerance, helium, and unparalleled reaction cell mode performance and wide detector dynamic range that made the 8800 such a remarkable success.<h4>3.&nbsp;Thermo Fisher Scientific: A comprehensive workflow for beverage analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)</h4><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/paper/28429">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>This application note will highlight a complete and comprehensive workflow for the analysis of nutrients and toxic trace elements in different types of beverages. Samples were digested using a microwave system prior to analysis using triple quadrupole ICP-MS for analysis.<h5>Introduction</h5>Trace metals analysis in beverages plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety, quality, and compliance of these products, helping to protect consumer health and maintain the reputation of beverage manufacturers.Trace metals can enter beverages through various sources, starting from their natural occurrence in the ingredients, water used in production, or through processing equipment, packaging materials, etc. The presence of these metals in excessive amounts can pose potential health risks to consumers, making it necessary to monitor and control their levels. Typical analytes include, but are not limited to, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and copper. The analysis is essential to ensure the safety and quality of beverages consumed by humans.Regulatory bodies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have established guidelines and maximum allowable limits for trace metals in beverages to ensure consumer safety. Manufacturers and regulatory authorities rely on the analysis to verify compliance with these regulations and to maintain the quality and integrity of beverages in the market.It is important to note that concentration limits can vary depending on the specific beverage type and the intended consumer population (e.g., infants, children, adults). Furthermore, applicable regulations and guidelines are regularly updated, so it is crucial for beverage manufacturers to stay informed about the latest requirements in their respective markets to ensure compliance.On the other hand, there are several essential inorganic elements that are vital for various physiological processes in the body. Nutrients such as calcium, phosphorous, sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron, and zinc serve essential roles in various physiological processes within the human body and provide the building blocks for growth, development, and maintenance of tissues and organs. These elements therefore play crucial roles in maintaining overall health and supporting various bodily functions.This application note demonstrates a workflow for highly reproducible sample preparation combined with sensitive and robust analysis for a wide variety of beverages. The proposed workflow allowed accurate determination of both essential nutrients and potentially toxic trace metals without any compromise and can be implemented, for example, in analytical testing laboratories performing the analysis on behalf of manufacturers or regulatory authorities.<h5>Conclusion</h5>This workflow, combining sample preparation using microwave assisted digestion and analysis using the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1488">iCAP MTX ICP-MS</a>, allows the determination of nutrient composition of fruit juices and processed beverages as required by the food labeling regulations and detection of any contaminants such as toxic elements present in the beverages.The analytical method was proven to provide accurate and precise results and can provide reliable performance over long analysis sequences, ensuring productivity in an applied testing laboratory. Based on the automatic and constant 5-times dilution of all samples, there are no matrix effects that would lead to unwanted interruptions of the analysis due to QC failures. Samples can be placed on the autosampler after completing preparation; no additional dilution is required. All types of interferences (polyatomic as well as isobaric interference, including doubly charged ions) are effectively suppressed with either helium collision gas or by using oxygen as a reactive gas in triple quadrupole mode. The instrument method could be easily set up thanks to the Reaction Finder method development assistant for <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1489">Qtegra ISDS Software</a>.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 4, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 3rd February 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 applications by Shimadzu, Agilent Technologies and Thermo Fisher Scientific!<h4>1. Shimadzu: Simultaneous TG/DTA - DTG-60 Series</h4><ul><li>Product note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/c161_e005_0b449915ae.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>This instrument varies the sample temperature in accordance with a program, and simultaneously measures the change in mass of the sample (TG) and the temperature difference between the sample and a standard substance (DTA).<ul><li>High-Sensitivity and High-Accuracy Measurement</li><li>Supports Various Types of Measurement</li><li>Automated Functions Increase Throughput</li><li>Complies with Analysis Laboratory Regulations</li><li>Compact Design</li></ul><h4>2.&nbsp;Agilent Technologies: Capabilities and Operation of the Advanced Dilution System 2</h4><ul><li>Technical Overview</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/te_ads_2_icp_5994_7211en_agilent_631a8d1650.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Automate calibration and sample dilution for Agilent ICP-OES and ICP-MS instrumentsNow, more than ever, laboratories worldwide are facing increasing challenges to perform more analyses with fewer resources, prompting a re-evaluation of many analytical practices. Automation of certain tasks can help lab managers to streamline workflows and optimize resource utilization. To increase the efficiency of labs equipped with Agilent ICP-OES or ICP-MS instrumentation, Agilent has developed the Advanced Dilution System 2 (ADS 2)—a fully integrated inline autodilution system designed for routine, high throughput applications. The ADS 2 can automatically dilute stock standards and samples up to 400 times, making it ideal for the auto-preparation of calibration standards and samples, or dilution of overrange samples. The ADS 2 effectively reduces the number of manual tasks that operators have to perform when preparing a quantitative method for ICP-OES or ICP-MS, allowing more time to work on other tasks.The two-syringe ADS 2 is available for the Agilent 5800 and 5900 ICP-OES* and Agilent 7850, 7900, and 8900 ICP-MS*. The ADS 2 and Advanced Valve System (AVS)** work seamlessly together under software control to maximize sample throughput, increase sample turn-around-time, and reduce cost-per-sample. The integrated design of the ADS 2 and AVS avoids adding excess time when not performing a dilution, addressing a common drawback of other dilution systems. The design also ensures that the system remains readily available to provide inline sample dilution whenever needed. If a reactive dilution of a sample is required, the intelligent software conveniently presents the results for the diluted sample at the end of each worksheet run, while retaining full access to all data.<h4>3.&nbsp;Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Scientific iCAP MX Series ICP-MS - Fully automatic start up and performance verification</h4><ul><li>Product spotlight</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/sl_002910_tea_qtegra_isds_software_get_ready_sl002910_em_en_9e1bfd41ac.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>The Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ MX Series ICP-MS instruments provide sensitive, accurate, and robust analysis of a wide variety of sample matrices. Designed with ease of use and intelligent solutions to time-consuming steps in the daily laboratory in mind, the Get Ready process allows for automatic and unattended instrument initialization and performance verification.Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a powerful technology for trace and ultra-trace determination of elemental impurities in various markets, including environmental and food safety testing, industrial applications, clinical analysis, and research. In recent years, ICP-MS has become not only more sensitive to improve detection of lower concentrations, but also more robust to replace analyses previously run on ICP-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) instruments.Another emerging trend is an increase in automation of labor-intensive and time-consuming steps in sample preparation and analysis. With increased demands on flexibility, both from clients demanding results with short turnover time as well as laboratory personnel looking for more flexible work arrangements, automated and timed start of the analytical system is an area to improve on efficiency and productivity in the laboratory.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 6, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 10th February 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 applications by Shimadzu, Agilent Technologies and Thermo Fisher Scientific!<h4>1. Shimadzu: Analyzing Various Plastics</h4>Benefits of Bundled KnowItAll® Software<ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_00824_en_3f3cdee3b3.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>This article describes using John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?search=KnowItAll">KnowItAll software </a>for plastic analysis. KnowItAll has an extensive library for a wide variety of data analysis, such as searching for multiple components to identify and determine the percentage of chemical components contained in plastics or identifying functional groups attributable to specific spectral peaks (partial structural analysis). Furthermore, KnowItAll is bundled with Shimadzu <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=3&amp;search=LabSolutions">LabSolutions IR software</a> for <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=3&amp;search=FTIR">FTIR analysis</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=3&amp;search=AMsolution">AMsolution</a> infrared microscope software. Clicking the [KnowItAll] button in the Shimadzu software automatically sends the active spectral data to the KnowItAll software, ensuring quick analysis.<h5>Conclusion</h5>An FTIR system in combination with a single-reflection <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=3&amp;search=ATR">ATR accessory</a> can measure a variety of plastics. However, the analyst must be able to judge whether the software data analysis results are correct, which requires significant amounts of knowledge and experience. But with KnowItAll bundle described in this article, functional groups of specific peaks or multiple components can be easily analyzed, providing an effective way to improve the accuracy of data analysis.<h4>2. Shimadzu: Speciation Analysis of Chromium by LC-ICP-MS Based on ISO 24384</h4><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_00809_en_13bfd5870a.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>User Benefits:<ul><li>Enables Cr(III) and Cr(VI) to be measured simultaneously in accordance with ISO 24384.</li><li>Suffers less interference from coexisting substances than the conventional method for measuring Cr(VI) and can be analyzed with a simple pretreatment.</li><li>Easy to connect instruments simply by attaching the LC column outlet piping to the ICP-MS nebulizer.</li></ul>In this method, Cr(III) is chelated using 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (PDCA) or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and then separated and quantified by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=3&amp;search=LC-ICP-MS">LC-ICP-MS</a>. This method is less prone to interference, is simple to use , and allows simultaneous determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI). In this application, EDTA was used as a chelating agent, and the results of performing chromium speciation using a Prominence Inert Analysis System connected to an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=3&amp;search=ICPMS-2050">ICPMS-2050</a> are reported.<h5>Conclusion</h5>The measurement sensitivity and resolution were good, and the spike recovery rate for each sample met the criteria required by ISO 24384 well. The LC-ICP-MS method can simultaneously quantify Cr(III) and Cr(VI) using only simple pretreatment and is less prone to the effects of coexisting substances than the conventional method. The LC-ICP-MS analysis system is easily constructed by simply attaching the LC column outlet piping to the ICP-MS nebulizer. This analysis was performed on an ICPMS-2050 equipped with a collision/reaction cell, but it can also be performed on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=3&amp;search=ICPMS-2040">ICPMS-2040</a>, a model dedicated to the collision mode.<h4>3. Agilent Technologies: Elemental Analysis of Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass Recycling Material by ICP-OES&nbsp;</h4>Enhancing instrument robustness for the analysis of high-TDS samples using an inert Agilent V-groove nebulizer<ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_battery_black_mass_recycling_icp_oes_5994_8064en_agilent_1_09aa5f70f0.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>This study highlights the effectiveness of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=1&amp;search=5900+svdv">Agilent 5900 SVDV ICP-OES</a>, equipped with the Agilent inert V-groove nebulizer, for the multi-element analysis of acid-digests of black mass (BM) samples. This new nebulizer enables routine analysis of unfiltered samples with up to 30% total dissolved solids and suspended particles of up to 350 μm in size. The system demonstrated an outstanding long-term stability over 16 hours and excellent spike recoveries. Additionally, the V-groove nebulizer operated without blockages for over three weeks, reducing maintenance requirements while ensuring high accuracy and precision. This method offers BM producers a reliable solution for directly analyzing key analytes in unfiltered sample digests, supporting efforts to recover valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries.<h5>Conclusion</h5>This study shows the suitability of the Agilent 5900 SVDV ICP-OES equipped with the Agilent inert V-groove nebulizer for the multi-element analysis of unfiltered acid-digests of black mass (BM) samples. The robust nebulizer is recommended for the routine analysis of samples with up to 30% total dissolved solids (TDS) and particle sizes less than 350 µm. Excellent long-term stability was demonstrated when samples were analyzed over 16 hours. Measurements of the QC solution were within ± 10% of the expected value, with precision better than 5% RSD. The spike recoveries were well within ± 10% of the spiked concentration at both low and high concentration levels, confirming the accuracy of the method for the detection of a wide range of elemental concentrations in a single analysis. The V-groove nebulizer enabled the samples to be run for more than three weeks without any blockages, while maintaining a high level of accuracy and reducing the frequency of torch and nebulizer maintenance. With an increased focus on recovering valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries, BM producers can confidently analyze key analytes in unfiltered sample digests directly using the V-groove nebulizer to enhance the robustness of the 5900 ICP-OES.<h4>4. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Supporting development and production with elemental analysis in life sciences and beyond</h4><ul><li>Case study</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/cs_003219_tea_icp_ms_icap_mx_series_merck_cs003219_na_en_8e346da1d8.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>The central analytics laboratory at Merck KGaA in Darmstadt, Germany, provides elemental analysis services to researchers and production units across the global Merck Group. Led by Dr. Sven Traxel, the Element Analytics group operates ten ICP-MS instruments to handle approximately 3,000 analysis requests annually, supporting development and troubleshooting in various fields. Their work encompasses a diverse range of sample matrices, including pharmaceuticals, life sciences products, liquid crystals, OLEDs, semiconductor materials, specialty chemicals, and pigments. Sample preparation methods vary from microwave-assisted digestions to open vessel digestions using different acids, with analyses often conducted overnight for efficiency. The team has been assessing the Thermo Scientific™ <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=2&amp;search=iCAP+MSX+ICP-MS">iCAP™ MSX ICP-MS</a> for its suitability in their analyses.ICP-MS expert Niklas Brenner, responsible for developing and adapting measurement methods, has extensive experience with various instruments, including the Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ Q ICP-MS. He notes that the iCAP MSX ICP-MS delivers performance comparable to other instruments in their laboratory. A significant advantage is the Argon Gas Dilution (AGD) feature, which reduces matrix effects and allows for a higher number of samples to be run before maintenance is required. Brenner reports analyzing nearly 1,500 samples with consistent performance since installation. While AGD slightly reduces system sensitivity, it does not compromise the laboratory's ability to achieve required detection limits. Routine maintenance, such as cleaning the cones, typically necessitates 2–3 hours of downtime weekly, but the iCAP MSX ICP-MS's design helps minimize this, enhancing overall laboratory efficiency.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 7, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 17th February 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 applications by Agilent Technologies,&nbsp;Bruker, Metrohm, Shimadzu and Thermo Fisher Scientific!<h4>1. Agilent Technologies: ICP-OES Quality Control of Elements in Brines Produced by Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE)</h4>Automated analysis of lithium brines using an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=ICP-OES+automation+system">Agilent ICP-OES Automation System</a><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_icp_oes_elements_brine_direct_lithium_extraction_5994_8041en_agilent_93bdef1f77.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology is a selective process designed to recover lithium (Li) from underground raw Li brine deposits while removing impurities.1 Compared to conventional Li extraction methods, such as mining hard rock ores or using brine evaporative methods, DLE is faster, consumes less water and power, produces less waste, and requires less land. Given these process and sustainability advantages, DLE is gaining significant attention from industry, academia, investors, and environmentalists.<h5>Agilent ICP-OES Automation System</h5>Robust instrumentation is therefore needed for the routine elemental analysis of large numbers of brine samples. An Agilent ICP-OES Automation System comprising the Agilent <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=5900+SVDV+ICP-OES">5900 SVDV ICP-OES</a>, Advanced Valve System (AVS 7), Advanced Dilution System (ADS 2), SPS 4 autosampler, and instrument software was used in this study. The Agilent <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=5800+VDV">5800 VDV ICP-OES</a> is also suitable for this application.&nbsp;The 5900 ICP-OES uses a vertical plasma torch and a solid-state radio frequency (SSRF) generator operating at 27 MHz to create a plasma with the stability needed for the routine analysis of brines. The integrated AVS 7 switching valve ensures fast analysis times and reduces instrument exposure to solids in high TDS samples.3 The accessory also minimizes carryover from sodium (Na) and prevents excessive torch devitrification, greatly reducing the frequency of instrument cleaning and extending the lifespan of parts.The samples analyzed in this study were produced using a membrane-based DLE methodology and included a wide variety of sample matrices, with target analytes typically present across a broad range of concentrations. Some key analytes, such as Li, Na, and magnesium (Mg), are particularly important to quantify as they directly impact the efficiency of the DLE process.&nbsp;To account for the different compositions and densities of the DLE samples, the ADS 2 was used to prepare calibration standards across a wide analytical range and to dilute the samples before analysis.4 Both processes can be labor-intensive and time-consuming when performed by an analyst, as well as being potential sources of contamination and errors. The implementation of advanced autodilution technology for ICP-OES enhances sample turnaround time and minimizes the risk of human errors, while ensuring accurate results.<h5>Conclusion</h5>An Agilent ICP-OES Automation System comprising the Agilent 5900 SVDV ICP-OES, AVS 7, ADS 2, SPS 4 autosampler, and ICP Expert Pro instrument software was used to analyze 12 elements in real brine samples. The raw, tail (Li-free), and Li concentrate brine samples were sourced from before and after processing using a membrane-based Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technique. All samples were analyzed using a single method in a single run.The IntelliQuant Screening method development tool within the software was used to set the calibration range for the analytes and to select the best analyte wavelengths. The use of the ICP-OES Automation System provided productivity and performance benefits for the brine application including:<ul><li>Automatic calibration. Completely automated calibration from three stock solutions removed the need to manually prepare standards to cover the wide and varying concentration range of analytes in the brines.</li><li>Prescriptive dilution. The ADS 2 was used to automatically dilute all three of the Li brine samples 50 times, so that the samples could be measured in a single run.</li><li>Reactive dilution. The ADS 2 automatically diluted the Li concentrate brine sample 200x in response to the concentration of Li exceeding the calibration range before remeasurement.</li><li>The ADS 2 also performed reactive dilutions on the raw brine (150x) and the tail brine (250x) to quantify Na.</li><li>Results summary report. The software selected the best measurement results to display from the available reactive dilution remeasurement results. It allowed for straightforward data viewing and reduced the amount of time required for manual data processing.</li><li>The AVS 7 minimized the exposure of the torch, nebulizer, and pump tubes to the high matrix samples. It also worked seamlessly with the ADS 2 to improve sample turnaround times.</li></ul><h4>2. Bruker: IR-Spectroscopic Analysis of Polymer Fillers and Compatibilizers</h4><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/AN_M104_Polymer_filler_ALPHA_II_EN_dce568f395.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Many of today’s plastics are multi component systems with multiple constituents like different polymers, fillers, plasticizers and compatibilizers. By systematic selection and blending of these constituents in appropriate mixture ratios tailor made substances with optimized material properties can be made. An important topic for quality control and analytical purposes is the identification and quantification of the individual components present in such plastics.&nbsp;Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy is one of the fastest and most accurate methods for the analysis and quality control of polymers. High quality IR spectra can be recorded in a few seconds; usually there is no need for sample preparation or costs for expensive consumables. Within only a minute FT-IR spectroscopy allows to verify that a given product is within its specification or to quantify one or more of its constituents.<h5>Measurement approach</h5>Nowadays, quality control and routine analysis using IR spectroscopy is mainly performed applying the ATR (Attenuated Total Reflection) technique. As there is virtually no sample preparation required ATR is much more comfortable to use than the conventional transmission mode. For the analysis the sample has to be pressed on the ATR-crystal, which is the measurement interface. From the ATR-crystal, the IR radiation penetrates slightly (a few microns) into the sample surface. The IR detector of the FT-IR spectrometer can then measure the absorbance resulting from the sample. The ATR-technique can be applied for almost all types of samples (e.g. solids, liquids, powders, pastes, pellets, slurries, fibres etc.). The analysis takes less than a minute, including sampling, measurement and data evaluation. By using ATR, it is even possible to differentiate between the top layers of a polymer laminate, which cannot be achieved in transmission mode.<h5>Instrumentation</h5>The very compact <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=8&amp;search=Alpha+II">ALPHA II FT-IR</a> spectrometer with the high pressure Platinum diamond ATR-module is a robust and affordable system that is very easy to operate. Diamond is a very hard-wearing, chemically inert and therefore ideal material for the analysis of a wide range of samples. In the platinum ATR-module the diamond is brazed into tungsten carbide. This extremely robust design allows the application of very high pressure so that even the hardest plastics can be measured. For the measurement of highly absorbing dark samples (e.g. black polymers) and thin layers an ATR-material with a high refractive index is required to limit the penetration depth of the IR-light into the sample. Therefore the Platinum ATR module can be equipped with a germanium (nGe = 4.0) crystal plate. To provide the user an unobstructed access to the sampling area, the pressure applicator can be rotated by 360°. The software is very intuitive and a software wizard guides the user through the analysis procedure.<h5>Summary</h5>The combination of Bruker Optics compact and robust FT-IR spectrometer ALPHA II with a high pressure diamond ATR unit is an ideal tool to analyze polymers, fillers and polymeradditives. The system allows quantifying single components in complex mixtures. The setup of new methods even for chemically similar polymers is quick and straightforward. A very intuitive work flow allows even spectroscopically inexperienced users to perform the analysis. Altogether the ALPHA II is perfectly suited for the identification of fillers, the quantification of mixture components and the quality control of polymers.<h4>3. Metrohm: Moisture content and rheology determination of fluorinated polyolefins using NIRS</h4>Moisture and melt flow rate analysis results within seconds<ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_nir_119_download_ec261a206c.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) is a partially fluorinated copolymer of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene. ETFE is a melt processable polymer, designed to have high corrosion resistance and strength over a wide temperature range. Some key quality parameters that should be monitored during the production of fluorinated polyolefins are melt flow rate (MFR) and moisture content. The measurement of these parameters usually involves using chemicals and can be time-consuming. Nearinfrared spectroscopy (NIRS) offers users rapid and reliable prediction of key quality parameters in ETFE without any sample preparation or cleaning procedures.&nbsp;<h5>Experimental equipment</h5>273 ETFE pellet samples with varying MFR and moisture content were measured on a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=220&amp;search=NIR">Metrohm nearinfrared spectroscopic analyzer</a> in reflection mode. All measurements were performed in rotation using a large sample cup to reduce the stray light effect caused by varying particle sizes. An overlay of the sample spectra is displayed in Figure 1.<h5>Conclusion</h5>This Application Note demonstrates the feasibility to determine mechanical properties and perform moisture analysis in fluorinated polyolefins like ETFE using NIRS. In comparison to the standard analytical methods (Table 1), quality control with NIR spectroscopy shows obvious advantages regarding the analysis time. In addition, the sample handling with near-infrared spectroscopy is easier to perform and safer since no chemicals are needed.<h4>4. Shimadzu: Quantitative Analysis of Copper Alloys and Differentiation of Sample Types by Matching Function</h4><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_00721_en_8e7c9c733b.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h5>User Benefits</h5><ul><li>The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=220-1&amp;search=EDXRF">EDXRF</a> has a smaller footprint than the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=220-1&amp;search=WDXRF">WDXRF</a>, and does not require cooling water or other auxiliary equipment.</li><li>Analyses can be carried out simply without tedious and time-consuming sample preparation because there are few limitations on the sample shape.</li><li>Sample types can be differentiated by using the matching search function provided as a standard feature</li></ul>Copper alloys are copper-based alloys which are produced by adding zinc, lead, tin, or other alloying elements to copper to improve machinability, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, or other properties. By composition, copper alloys are classified as the 1000 seriesto the 7000 series. Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometers (EDXRF) are widely used in applications such as receiving inspections of recycled materials, taking advantage of their excellent operability and simple sample handling, but high-accuracy wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometers (WDXRF) are used mainly in metal manufacturing processes. However, as a result of improvement in the quantitative accuracy of EDXRF in recent years, a wider range of applications, such as use in manufacturing processes, is expected in the future. This article introduces an evaluation of the analytical performance of the Shimadzu <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=EDX-7200">EDX-7200</a> in an analysis of copper alloys, focusing on the following items.<ul><li>Quantitative analysis by the calibration curve method (accuracy of calibration curves, lower limit of quantitation, repeatability)</li><li>FP (fundamental parameter) qualitative/quantitative analysis and matching function</li></ul><h5>Conclusion</h5>This article has introduced an evaluation of the analytical performance of the EDX-7200, using copper alloys as an example. In the quantitative analysis by the calibration curve method, repeatability was evaluated, showing that results with high reliability can be obtained. The qualitative/quantitative analysis by the FP method also showed that samples can be differentiated easily by using the matching search function of the EDX-7200. Thus, the EDX-7200 offers a combination of merits. In addition to excellent analytical performance and a small installation footprint, there is no need cooling water or other auxiliary equipment, there are few limitations on the sample shape, and highly accurate analysis of samples even in their original shape is possible. Based on these advantages, It is expected that EDX-7200 will be widely used to replace analysis using WDXRF.<h4>5. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Reliable and productive analysis of food samples using single quadrupole ICP-MS&nbsp;</h4><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/AN_003603_Reliable_and_productive_analysis_of_food_samples_using_single_quadrupole_ICP_MS_c68b045824.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is the technique of choice for accurately measuring toxic elements, especially for analytical testing laboratories. At the same time, it also allows the analysis of major nutritional elements present in concentrations several orders of magnitude higher. However, sample matrix variability and the large sample load usually found in testing laboratories may lead to challenges like unstable internal standard recoveries outside acceptable ranges, quality control failures and drift, rapid degradation of instrument performance. If left unaddressed, these may cause unexpected downtime and interruptions to the overall laboratory productivity.This study describes how the Thermo Scientific™<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=3&amp;search=+iCAP+MSX"> iCAP™ MSX</a> ICP-MS instrument, equipped with argon gas dilution (AGD), is able to reliably overcome these challenges and enables seamless multielement analysis of different kinds of food samples with simplicity.<h5>Conclusion</h5>This study demonstrates how the iCAP MSX ICP-MS fulfils the requirements of food testing laboratories and resolves the typical challenges associated with this sample type. Close to 7,000 food samples were measured in this study over eight weeks where daily sequences ran for more than 12 hours with stable data, negligible analytical drift, excellent internal standard response, and without the need for any maintenance actions.<ul><li>The use of AGD allowed effective handling of matrix and compositional variability introduced by widely different food samples, commonly analyzed together on the same day in analytical testing laboratories.</li><li>Accuracy and precision were demonstrated using applicable certified reference materials, which were successfully analyzed and quantified with excellent recoveries.</li><li>High concentrations of nutritional elements were accurately measured alongside accurate quantification of low-level toxic elements in the same samples.</li><li>Specially challenging elements like arsenic, typically expected in the range of a few µg·kg-1 or lower in food samples were measured and quantified using He-KED mode. Mathematical correction using half mass signals was further used to reduce the impact of rare earth elements, potentially present in some samples.</li></ul>

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 8, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 24th February 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,&nbsp;Bruker, Metrohm, Shimadzu and Thermo Fisher Scientific!<h4>1. Agilent Technologies: Sustainable Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling: Recovery of Metals in Green Solvents by ICP-OES</h4><h5>Fast analysis of deep eutectic solvents using Agilent <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=1&amp;search=5800+VDV">5800 VDV</a> ICP-OES with switching valve</h5><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_green_solvent_battery_recycling_5800_icp_oes_5994_8017en_agilent_d95e03655d.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Currently, two primary industrial processes are used for recycling spent LIBs: pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy. Pyrometallurgy involves the high-temperature extraction of metals, which is energy demanding and yields relatively poor-quality output.3 Hydrometallurgy requires the use of numerous extractants and a longer process but achieves better metal recoveries than pyrometallurgy.3 However, the hydrometallurgical process produces large quantities of acidic and alkaline wastewater, which can threaten the environment if not properly managed.3Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are an emerging class of green solvents that offer a novel solution for LIB recycling. Made from mixtures of biodegradable components, DESs are easy to prepare, inexpensive, nontoxic, and reusable.4 Scientists are actively investigating how the unique properties of DESs can be used to efficiently leach critical metals from spent LIBs.4 To verify the effectiveness of DESs in terms of metal-recovery rates, researchers often use a multi-element analytical technique such as inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). However, analyzing leached metals in DESs by ICP-OES is not without its challenges. The high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) matrix samples can cause wear on the sample introductory system, potentially introducing errors in the results. There is also a need for a wide Linear Dynamic Range (LDR), as the elemental profile of end-of-life LIBs can vary greatly.The Agilent 5800 Vertical Dual View (VDV) ICP-OES is widely used to determine metals and other elements in LIB battery materials.5 Designed for robustness and stability, the 5800 enables the fast, simultaneous measurement of over 70 elements in many sample types. The wide LDR of the instrument’s Vista Chip III detector enables a range of elements to be analyzed in the same sample, avoiding the need to perform multiple dilutions.6 This field-proven instrument uses advanced tools and accessories to support the development of new methods, making it ideal for LIB recycling initiatives, such as facilitating the recovery of valuable metals using DESs.&nbsp;In this application, the 5800 VDV ICP-OES was used to determine eight representative elements of spent LIBs spiked in a choline chloride and urea (ChCl:Urea) DES solution. The analytes aluminum (Al), Co, copper (Cu), iron (Fe), Li, manganese (Mn), Ni, and phosphorus (P) were selected based on their presence in various types of cathode active materials (CAMs).&nbsp;<h4>Conclusion</h4>The Agilent 5800 VDV ICP-OES with the integrated AVS 7 switching valve effectively determined valuable LIB-related elements in DES. Leaching metals from end-of-life LIBs using DESs offers a more sustainable alternative to traditional metallurgical processes for battery recycling. Under the control of Agilent ICP Expert Pro software, the 5800 enabled the fast, robust, and accurate analysis of eight representative elements of LIBs in a spiked ChCl:Urea DES solution. The following hardware and software tools were used to ensure the quality of the quantitative data:<ul><li>IntelliQuant Screening streamlined method development by recommending optimal calibration ranges and interference-free wavelengths for all analytes, ensuring accurate analysis of analytes in DESs.</li><li>The AVS 7 improved sample throughput requiring only 41 s per sample compared to 90 s without the AVS. It also minimized costs by lowering argon consumption to 9.8 L per sample and less frequent cleaning of consumables such as the torch and nebulizer.</li><li>FBC automatically corrected the background structures for Al, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and P and FACT deconvoluted the Li peak from more complex background spectra.&nbsp;</li></ul>The accuracy of the 5800 ICP-OES method was confirmed by recoveries of all analytes spiked at high and low levels in DES, with results within 100 ±10%. Excellent long-term stability was demonstrated when 645 solutions were analyzed over seven hours. Recoveries of the QCs and spiked DES samples were within ±10% of the expected values. Good precision was achieved for the spiked DES sample measurements, with RSDs ≤2.2% for all elements. The performance of the 5800 VDV ICP-OES with AVS 7 demonstrates its suitability for the fast, quantitative analysis of critical LIB-related elements such as Co, Mn, and Li in complex matrices like ChCl:Urea DES.<h4>2. Bruker: Analysis of Pet Food with FT-NIR Spectroscopy</h4><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/AN_N308_Petfood_EN_a5a1ea8cdd.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Pets are today an important part of peoples lives. Therefore consumers trust in brands which guarantee the best quality for their individual animal, since pets of different breed, size and age often need a special nutrient profile in their diet. Pet food producers have to provide a vast amount of different products, produced at an acceptable cost.&nbsp;<h5>From raw materials to finished pet food</h5>The biggest challenge in pet food production is to keep track of the different recipes depending on the availability of the expensive raw materials. Depending on origin and season, they often show huge batch-to-batch variability; nevertheless, feeding the least cost formulation programs with valid compositional data is essential and a fast and accurate analysis, providing results in seconds can help keeping track of the production process.Near infrared spectroscopy is used in agriculture for many decades for the analysis of main constituents like moisture, fat and protein. It is fast and safe, since it requires little to no sample preparation, nor hazardous chemicals or gases. This makes a quick test of the incoming raw material using FT-NIR available even to production staff, before processing the materials and also allows a fast way of testing the final material before packaging.<h5>Easy sampling and measurement</h5>Solid samples like like raw materials and finished pet food are filled in cups with a quartz glass bottom, placed on the integrating sphere of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=10&amp;search=MPA+II">MPA II</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=10&amp;search=TANGO-R">TANGO-R</a> spectrometer and measured from below. This way, the product has an even surface and for highly reproducible results, it is rotated during the measurement. Liquid samples like oils and fats are are simply filled in 8mm glass vials and are measured in the sample compartment of the MPA II or TANGO-T.<h4>3. Metrohm: Polyethylene content determination in polypropylene pellets by NIRS</h4><h5>Rapid analysis of recycled polyolefins</h5><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_nir_124_download_db3dcba358.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Next to polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) is the most widely used plastic worldwide. Recycling these polyolefins is problematic, since it is challenging to separate polyethylene from polypropylene using sink float separation. Increasing PE content in PP leads to a poor interfacial bond strength which could negatively impact the mechanical properties of the final molded product.An efficient method to determine the polyolefin composition based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) analysis is presented in this Application Note. The main advantage is the short time to result. Compared to the time-consuming standard method (i.e., Differential Scanning Calorimetry or DSC), the analysis of polyethylene content in polypropylene using near-infrared spectroscopy is performed in just seconds.<h4>Experimental equipment</h4>Different polymer blends (n = 54) with varying polyethylene content from 0.5–35% were produced in a compounder. The polyethylene content was determined by weighing before the polymer blends were produced. All measurements on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=56&amp;search=OMNIS+NIR">OMNIS NIR</a> Analyzer Solid (Figure 1) were performed in rotation using a large sample cup to average the subsample spectra. This sample setup reduces the influence of the particle size distribution of the polymer particles.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This Application Note shows the feasibility of NIR spectroscopy for the analysis of polyolefins. Detecting PE concentrations below 5% with the standard Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) method can be challenging and time consuming. Compared to DSC measurements (Table 2), near-infrared analysis saves significant time: one sample measurement is performed in a couple of seconds. Next to PE content, physical parameters like density can also be determined with NIRS.&nbsp;<h4>4. Shimadzu: Three-Point Bending Fatigue Tests of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic Using the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=3&amp;search=SEM+Servopulser">SEM Servopulser</a></h4><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_00793_en_a50aabfd66.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>User Benefits:<ul><li>The SEM Servopulser can perform three-point bending fatigue tests of carbon fiber reinforced plastic.</li><li>The SEM Servopulser can also be used to observe fatigue cracks.</li><li>High-accuracy dynamic control can be achieved with the Servo Controller 4830</li></ul>Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) has high specific strength and stiffness and is widely used in various industrial fields, including transport vehicles. In order to ascertain its long-term reliability and durability as a structural material, it is necessary to evaluate it for fatigue, one of the main causes of structural failure. However, since CFRP is composed of two types of materials, carbon fibers and matrix resin, it exhibits complex behaviors in failure, such as matrix cracking, inter-layer delamination,and fiber rupture.This article describes bending fatigue tests that used the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=3&amp;search=Servopulser+EHF-L">Servopulser EHF-L</a> tabletop dynamic and fatigue testing system. The extension of cracks during the fatigue tests was observed using the SEM Servopulser, a high-temperature fatigue testing machine with a scanning electron microscope.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Bending fatigue tests were performed on CFRP using a fatigue testing system, and the resulting S-N curve was compiled. Then the conditions were set on the SEM Servopulser based on the SN curve obtained, and damage to the test specimen was observed during the test. By changing the magnification on the SEM, it was possible to observe the damage location on the test specimen in detail. As the test progressed, it was possible to clearly observe how the damage progressed. In this way, the SEM Servopulser demonstrated it can assist in evaluating the fatigue properties of composite materials,such as CFRP.&nbsp;<h4>5. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Measurement of traces of heavy metals in cosmetic raw materials and finished products according to ISO/DIS 21392:2021 using triple quadrupole ICP-MS</h4><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/AN_003602_Measurement_of_traces_of_heavy_metals_in_cosmetic_raw_materials_and_finished_products_according_to_ISO_DIS_21392_2021_using_triple_quadrupole_ICP_MS_c71fff2bcc.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>This application note highlights a complete and comprehensive workflow for the analysis of heavy metals in different types of cosmetic products, including raw materials, and will demonstrate the need to use triple quadrupole ICP-MS technology to achieve complete interference removal. As described in ISO/DIS 21392:2021, the samples were prepared using a microwave system prior to analysis.<h4>Experimental</h4>A Thermo Scientific™ <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=2&amp;search=iCAP%E2%84%A2+MTX+">iCAP™ MTX </a>ICP-MS and a Thermo Scientific™<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=2&amp;search=+iSC-65"> iSC-65</a> autosampler were used for analysis. The ICP-MS was operated using the parameters highlighted in Table 1. Due to the great variability of total dissolved solids (TDS) used in cosmetic matrices, the instrument was operated using Argon Gas Dilution (AGD). Thus, all calibration standards and samples were automatically diluted approximately five times to ensure analytical robustness for all sample types, such as raw materials and finished products. Due to the potential presence of interferences, the iCAP MTX ICP-MS was operated in collision (SQ-KED) and reaction (TQ-O2) modes to remove polyatomic and isobaric interferences, and to reach the best quantification limits for critical elements.<h4>Conclusion</h4>As the demand for cosmetic products continues to grow worldwide, the testing of raw materials and finished cosmetic products becomes a key activity to ensure consumer safety with respect to exposure to potentially toxic heavy metals. Maintaining stringent safety standards remains a priority to protect consumer health and uphold the reputation of the industry. The proposed method provides a powerful and reliable option for both manufacturers as well as testing laboratories to obtain high quality data in combination with the often-required productivity. It ensures regulatory compliance with ISO/DIS 21392:2021, but also provides valuable insights as also other elements, currently not under regulation, can be determined free from interferences and potential biases.Some key advantages are summarized below:<ul><li>The automated sample preparation with the combination of the EasyFILL Acid Delivery and the ultraWAVE SRC microwave system ensures an efficient and reproducible method for the acid digestion of the cosmetic samples.</li><li>EasyAGD delivers a constant and automatic 5-times dilution for all samples, which allows laboratories to analyze finished products as well as raw materials in the same batch with excellent robustness.</li><li>The use of the iCAP MTX ICP-MS allows the leveraging of oxygen as a reactive gas in TQ-O2 mode to overcome critical interferences and to obtain the lower quantification limits required by the regulation for highly toxic heavy metals.</li><li>The presence of high concentrations of tungsten, tin, and zirconium in certain raw materials can create isobaric and polyatomic interferences on toxic heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium. The use of TQ-O2 mode guarantees excellent method accuracy for all sample types.</li><li>Workflows can be further streamlined using innovative features such as the Get Ready process for automatic and scheduled plasma start. The Thermo Scientific™ Hawk™ Consumables and Maintenance Assistant within Qtegra ISDS Software allows contract testing laboratories to ensure all maintenance activities are accomplished before unexpected downtime of the system impacts laboratory productivity.</li></ul>

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 9, 2025

We recently received a comment from a reader regarding a previous article, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/metals/analyzing-304-and-321-steel-for-pmi-on-pipelines/">Analyzing 304 and 321 Steel for PMI on Piping Systems.</a> The reader wrote: “This is a really informative piece! I didn’t realize there was such a difference between 304 and 321 steel, especially in terms of resistance to corrosion at higher temperatures. How often is Positive Material Identification (PMI) testing conducted in industries like oil and gas to help ensure the correct material is used?Here’s a summary, for those readers not familiar with the article.&nbsp; Scroll below for a list of resources to learn more about PMI in the oil and gas industry.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Reader_Question_Addressed_Resources_for_PMI_in_the_Oil_and_Gas_Industry_41d08937ce.jpg" alt="Thermo Fisher Scientific: Reader Question Addressed: Resources for PMI in the Oil and Gas Industry." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Reader_Question_Addressed_Resources_for_PMI_in_the_Oil_and_Gas_Industry_41d08937ce.jpg 235w," sizes="100vw" width="2121" height="1414"><h3>Recap</h3>Ensuring the integrity and safety of pipelines is critical, particularly in industries such as oil and gas. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/industrial/spectroscopy-elemental-isotope-analysis/portable-analysis-material-id/portable-metal-manufacturing-inspection-recycling-solutions/positive-material-identification-oil-gas.html">Positive Material Identification</a> (PMI) plays a crucial role in verifying that the correct materials are used, helping to prevent catastrophic failures. Two commonly used stainless steels in these applications are 304 and 321 steel.&nbsp;304 stainless steel is known for its excellent corrosion resistance and formability, making it versatile and cost-effective for various applications, including piping and heat exchangers. On the other hand, 321 stainless steel, which includes titanium, offers enhanced resistance to intergranular corrosion, making it ideal for high-temperature environments like aerospace and petrochemical industries.PMI helps ensure that materials meet the required specifications through advanced analytical techniques that help verify the chemical composition of the materials, helping to prevent the use of incorrect or substandard materials. These techniques include:<ul><li style="text-align:left;">Handheld <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/industrial/spectroscopy-elemental-isotope-analysis/spectroscopy-elemental-isotope-analysis-learning-center/elemental-analysis-information/xrf-technology.html?icid=CAD_blog_metals_2020April" aria-label="XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) spectroscopy - open in a new tab" data-uw-rm-ext-link="">XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) spectroscopy</a> is a non-destructive method that uses X-rays to determine the elemental composition of materials. It is quick and provides accurate results, making it ideal for field use.</li><li style="text-align:left;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/industrial/spectroscopy-elemental-isotope-analysis/portable-analysis-material-id/industrial-elemental-radiation-solutions/how-does-libs-work.html?icid=CAD_blog_metals_2022April">LIBS technology</a> (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) is an analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of materials, and is especially used for calculating carbon equivalency.</li><li style="text-align:left;">Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) is a method that involves sparking the material and analyzing the emitted light to determine its composition. OES is highly accurate and can detect a wide range of elements, but it is a heavy instrument to use in the field.</li></ul><h3>PMI Resources</h3>To help better understand how PMI is used in the oil and gas industry, here is a collection of articles and resources:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/industrial/spectroscopy-elemental-isotope-analysis/portable-analysis-material-id/portable-metal-manufacturing-inspection-recycling-solutions/positive-material-identification-oil-gas.html?erpType=Global_E1#menu4">Portable Power Generation / Oil and Gas (PMI) Resources</a> (includes webinars, videos, application notes, etc.)</li><li>Application notes:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/CAD/Application-Notes/niton-apollo-carbon-equivalency.pdf">Carbon equivalents in steel components</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/CAD/Application-Notes/xl5-silicon-corrosion-app-note.pdf">Preventing sulfidic corrosion failures</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/CAD/Application-Notes/Analysis-of-Residual-Elements-in-Steel-Pipe.pdf">Identifying residual elements in steel piping</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/CAD/Application-Notes/xl5-power-plant-fac-app-note.pdf">Power plant FAC inspection protocol</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://tools.thermofisher.com/content/sfs/brochures/XL5-MicroalloySteels-App-Note-2016-FINAL.pdf">Analysis of microalloying elements in steel</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/CAD/Application-Notes/IJ-Custom-PDF-Brian-Wilson-ThermoFisher-JulyAug-2016.pdf">Conducting retroactive PMI</a></li></ul></li><li>Free Webinars and Videos:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://players.brightcove.net/665001591001/I9XluuSon_default/index.html?videoId=6024330156001">API 578 (3rd edition)</a> – Guidelines for a material verification program</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/4821">Why Is analyzing carbon important?</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/4822">Latest developments in PMI technologies</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://players.brightcove.net/665001591001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6340816364112">Geothermal Power Generation&nbsp;</a></li></ul></li><li>eBooks:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/global/forms/industrial/xrf-ebook-download-request.html?icid=CAD_FSI_XRFeBook_ScrapRecycling">XRF technology for non-scientists</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/global/forms/industrial/fsi-libs-ebook-download-request.html?icid=CAD_blog_metals_2021Jan">LIBS technology for non-scientists</a></li></ul></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/metals/positive-material-identification/">Additional PMI blog articles</a></li></ul>And if you want to see workers in action conducting PMI, check out the photos in this article: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/mining/oil-and-gas-pmi-crews-in-action-photo-gallery/">Oil and Gas PMI Crews in Action – Photo Gallery.</a>

Reader Question Addressed: Resources for PMI in the Oil and Gas Industry

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