Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 17th November 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, LECO, Shimadzu and Waters Corporation!<h3>1. Agilent Technologies: Microplastics Characterization in Carbonated Beverages and Apple Juice by Laser Direct Infrared</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_microplastics_carbonated_drinks_juice_8700_ldir_5994_8654en_agilent_1f60f6209c.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>The widespread use of plastic materials in the production, packaging, and distribution of foods and beverages has raised growing concerns about microplastic contamination. Popular beverages bottled in plastic-containing packaging are increasingly recognized as potential contributors to dietary microplastic exposure. Studies have reported microplastic particles in commercial mineral water and soft drinks, often introduced through bottling operations, cap abrasion, or migration from plastic containers and multilayer packaging&nbsp;materials.1-4Carbonated beverages and apple juice are commonly packaged in a variety of container types, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), aluminum cans, glass bottles, and multilayer cartons. Microplastics may shed into the product from the packaging materials or be generated during the preparation and filling stages. Factors like high-speed bottling, carbonation pressure, and storage conditions can further accelerate the release of microplastics into the liquid matrix.2,5&nbsp;Detecting microplastics in complex beverage formulations presents significant analytical challenges, primarily due to the presence of organic matter and mineral constituents in these products. Traditional techniques such as micro-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (µFTIR) and µRaman spectroscopy can effectively identify and characterize microplastics in beverages, typically following digestion and density separation to avoid matrix-related interferences. Also, method development and sample run times for both techniques are often labor-intensive and low-throughput, limiting the number of samples that can be processed within a given timeframe.To address these limitations, the highly automated Agilent 8700 Laser Direct Infrared (LDIR) chemical imaging system (Figure 1) significantly improves sample throughput, enabling the rapid, accurate detection of microplastics in complex matrices following direct filtration. The system uses a Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) that allows rapid and precise scanning across the mid-infrared (MIR) fingerprint region (1,800 to 975 cm–1), providing high-quality spectral data. It also provides high-quality imaging data using two high‑quality visual cameras that are fully controlled by the Agilent Clarity software. The software also includes preset methods such as Particle Analysis to simplify the analysis, as well as data reporting tools to aid interpretation and decision-making.This application note demonstrates the use of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=8700+LDIR">8700&nbsp;LDIR</a> for the characterization of microplastics extracted from commercially available carbonated beverages and apple juice packaged in various container types. The particles were analyzed directly on aluminum-coated filters.<h4>Results and discussion</h4><h5>Carbonated beverages&nbsp;</h5>To locate particles and define their boundaries, the 8700 LDIR automated Particle Analysis workflow conducted an initial rapid scan over a selected area (~16 mm diameter per filter) using a fixed wavenumber (1,442 cm–1). Following detection, the system automatically acquired full infrared spectra for each particle across the spectral range. These spectra were then matched in real time against the Microplastics Starter 2.1 spectral library for identification.&nbsp;Although a residue layer was observed on the aluminum‑coated filters following filtration of the carbonated beverages, it did not interfere with the LDIR's particle detection or identification capabilities (Figure 3). As shown in Table 2, microplastics were identified in all three beverage samples, with particle counts of 50, 39, and 384 for samples 1, 2, and 3, respectively (HQI &gt; 0.85).&nbsp;PVC was detected across all container types, such as rPET (37 particles), aluminum can (25 particles), and glass, which unexpectedly exhibited the highest particle count (227&nbsp;particles). This may be attributed to the cap liner material (often a multilayer seal designed to prevent oxygen or moisture ingress) or potential cross-contamination during bottling through piping systems. PET microplastics were also identified in all samples, with particle sizes ranging from 20 to 500 µm (Table 2)<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>This study highlights the advantages of using the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=8700+LDIR">Agilent 8700 LDIR</a> chemical imaging system for characterizing microplastics in carbonated beverages and apple juice contained in various types of packaging. When consumed, these drinks may serve as potential sources of microplastic&nbsp;exposure.&nbsp;The 8700 LDIR enabled a direct on-filter analysis approach that significantly simplified the workflow by eliminating traditional preparation steps such as digestion and density separation, speeding up the analysis. The on-filter method reduced the potential for sample contamination while enhancing recovery rates and sample representativeness by enabling filtration of the entire product volume.&nbsp;The two-position filter holder facilitated the automated, sequential analysis of both a procedural blank and sample under identical conditions, supporting an accurate quality control process.&nbsp;The automated Particle Analysis method in the Agilent Clarity software was used to detect and process data from microplastics contained on the two filters. The software automatically searched the microplastics IR spectral library to identify the polymer type of each particle, providing a "Hit Quality Index" confidence rating for each result. Using this fast and automated workflow, the 8700 LDIR characterized the microplastic content of the beverages with minimal operator&nbsp;input.&nbsp;The detailed chemical and physical information generated for each particle by the 8700 provides valuable insight into microplastic pollution, particularly in food and beverages. This data supports the identification of potential contamination sources and facilitates assessment of their broader environmental and human health impact of microplastics.<h3>2. LECO: Determination of Moisture and Ash in Graphite</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/TGA_801_MOISTURE_ASH_GRAPHITE_203_821_676_7d4113f853.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Graphite is a stable form of carbon that exists in nature or can be synthetically produced. Graphite has many applications in our daily lives including its use in pencils, lubricants, electrodes, batteries, and carbon fiber. Synthetic graphite is a man-made substance manufactured by the high temperature processing of amorphous carbon materials. The types of amorphous carbon used as precursors to graphite are many, and can be derived from petroleum, coal, or natural and synthetic organic materials. Synthetic graphite is more pure in terms of carbon content and tends to behave more predictably. Graphite is a very popular material used in electronics and batteries due to its great conductive properties. It is the most commonly used substance to serve as the anode material in lithium-ion batteries due to its relatively low-cost and its energy density. Graphite in the form of carbon fibers is nearly five times stronger than steel and three times lighter. Therefore, carbon fibers and sheets have a wide variety of uses in the manufacturing world, including the automotive, aerospace, military, sporting equipment and construction industries.&nbsp;The purity or grade of graphite is directly related to its suitability for different applications. The purer the graphite, the lower the ash content. The ash values of graphite samples can be utilized to compare the relative purity of various grades of graphite. Therefore, ash determination in graphite is a useful quality control process in the graphite industry.<h4>Instrument Model and Configuration&nbsp;</h4>Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is an analytical technique in which changes in sample mass, due to changes in the physical and chemical properties of materials, is measured as a function of temperature and/or time. TGA is commonly used to determine selected characteristics of materials that exhibit either mass loss, or gain, due to decomposition, oxidation, or loss of volatile materials such as moisture. Macro TGA systems typically use a nominal one-gram sample mass to allow more accurate mass change measurements in heterogeneous materials.&nbsp;The LECO <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1-24&amp;search=TGA801">TGA801</a> is a macro thermogravimetric analyzer designed to determine moisture, volatile and ash content of materials by measuring the change in mass of the sample as a function of the oven temperature while controlling the atmosphere and ventilation rate. The TGA801 allows up to 19 samples to be analyzed simultaneously.<h3>3. Shimadzu: Determination of Additive and Trace Elements in Lubricating Oil Using ICP-MS</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_00921_en_047409a59a.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h4>User Benefits</h4><ul><li>Metal elements in lubricating oil can be accurately analyzed by dilution with organic solvents.</li><li>Solvent-resistant peristaltic pump tubing enables the addition of internal standard elements in-line, even for organic solvent analysis, thereby eliminating the need for manual addition.</li></ul>Organic metal compounds are added to lubricating oil to provide various functional properties. Therefore, monitoring the concentrations of these additivesisimportant for ensuring quality control. In addition, the analysis of wear metals and contaminant metals in lubricating oils (engine oils) used in automobiles and shipsis a crucial method for assessing the condition of the engine. Traditionally, these analyses have utilized ICP Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) as outlined in ASTM D4951-141) and ASTM D5185-182). However, for the analysis of trace metal elements that are difficult to detect with ICP-OES, the more sensitive ICP massspectrometry (ICP-MS) is more suitable.&nbsp;In this Application News, lubricating oil was diluted with organic solvents, and the additives and trace elements in the oil were analyzed using the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=ICPMS-2050">ICP-MS 2050</a> (Fig. 1). To verify the accuracy of the analytical results,spike recoveries were also evaluated.<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>In this Application News, the analysis of metal elements in lubricating oil was performed using the ICPMS-2050 with the organic solvent injection system. Good spike recoveries were achieved, confirming that trace metal elements in lubricating oil can be accurately quantified with a simple sample preparation involving only dilution with organic solvents. Since it is possible to analyze without the complex procedures required for acid decomposition, the risk of volatilization or contamination of the analytes during the sample preparation process is reduced. Additionally, the use of solvent-resistant peristaltic pump tubing enables the in-line addition of internal standard elements, further reducing the time required forsample preparation.<h3>4. Waters Corporation: AAV Aggregate Quantitation and Identification with the Aura System</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/720009095_en_868c97aba9.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) have transformed gene therapies by enabling the targeted delivery of curative genetic payloads.1 However, the amount of AAV material available is consistently in short supply due to its inherently expensive, time-consuming, and laborious production process.1 Regardless, critical quality attributes still need to be measured throughout development. Subvisible particles are perhaps the most important parameter to monitor because they lead to adverse immunogenicity events. Thus, this data must be provided to the FDA during the review process.2 Additionally, measuring the stability of the capsid is an indicator of the shelf life and efficacy of the product.&nbsp;The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2190">Aura™ platform</a> is the first ultra-low-volume, subvisible particle analysis system that quantitatively characterizes the stability of different AAV serotypes with as little as 5 µL. This application note demonstrates how several AAV serotypes tend to form large, subvisible aggregates that cannot be predicted using other techniques. It explores the stability and subvisible particle formation in AAV2, AAV5, and AAV8 under different stress conditions and compare the results to stability predictions made by differential scanning calorimetry. In addition, it analyzes the nature of the subvisible aggregates using complete morphological analysis and fluorescence membrane microscopy (FMM) using as low as 10 µL per AAV sample.<h4>Results and Discussion&nbsp;</h4>Subvisible particle aggregation was observed as a function of serotype and stress conditions with as little as 10 µL per sample (Figure 1). When unstressed AAV samples (samples processed and measured directly from the vial) were compared to each other, the AAV2 (Figure 1a) sample contained less subvisible particles compared to the AAV5 (Figure 1b) and AAV8 (Figure 1c) samples, respectively. Increased levels of protein aggregation were observed in all AAV samples after stressing the samples at 73 °C for 2 hours, though each serotype produced aggregates with different morphologies. The stressed AAV2 produced well-defined small to large granular particles (Figure 1d) while stressed AAV5 contained large fibrillar structures (Figure 1e). The stressed AAV8 sampled (Figure 1f) denatured into a film-like matrix that spread throughout the membrane, resulting in no discernable subvisible particles but showing complete sample degradation.The Aura System detects and distinguishes the particles formed in different AAV serotypes, both in unstressed and stressed samples. The data generated demonstrated that neat, unstressed samples contain visible aggregates and that each AAV serotype forms different types of aggregates, from granular (AAV2), through fibrillar (AAV5) to fully denatured films (AAV8), when they were thermally stressed. Thermally stressing the AAV2 samples at 73 °C for 2 hours produced a significantly lower number of particles compared to the AAV5 and AAV8 samples, respectively<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2190">Aura platform</a> delivered both quantitative and qualitative protein aggregation information for several AAV serotypes under different conditions with volumes as low as 10 µL per sample. In comparison, this is &lt;30X the volume typically required with the most advanced low volume flow imager and &lt;1000X lower volume than light obscuration systems. The ability to image brightfield (BMI) and fluorescence (FMM) images at the same time also defines what is protein and what is not in the ThT-stained samples. The Aura System helps characterize your AAV samples with the lowest volume requirements, the highest throughput (&lt;1 minute/sample) and reveals the greatest insights into their stability.&nbsp;

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 47, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 24th November 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, LECO, Shimadzu and Waters Corporation!<h3>1. Agilent Technologies: Precursor Detection Using an Agilent Resolve Tactical Handheld Raman Analyzer</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ab_precursor_detection_raman_5994_8582en_agilent_898ffaec34.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Chemicals used in the illicit manufacturing of narcotic drugs and psychoactive substances are known as "drug precursors". Drug precursors include chemicals that are one reaction away from being the drug (e.g. 4-ANPP to fentanyl), chemicals that are used in a wide range of legal applications from fragrances (e.g. benzaldehyde) to solvents (e.g. toluene), and chemicals that are multiple reaction steps away from the drug itself, sometimes called a "pre-precursor". The resulting "pre-precursor" may be sufficiently different from the main precursor that it circumnavigates legislation, mobilizing drug synthesis to any country.&nbsp;The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=Agilent+Resolve+tactical+handheld+Raman">Agilent Resolve tactical handheld Raman analyzer</a> uses spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) technology to identify hazardous materials, explosives, and narcotics concealed behind single and multiple barriers. These barriers can include colored and opaque plastics, glass, paper, card, wrapping, and fabrics. The combination of SORS, high data quality, reduced fluorescence interference, and a library continuously updated with new psychoactive substances makes the Resolve a powerful tool in the detection and identification of controlled substances. As of library version 43, over 80 different precursors can be identified using Resolve.<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>The Agilent Resolve tactical handheld Raman analyzer can be used for the fast, direct identification of drug precursors in the original packaging. Direct analysis using the Resolve minimizes the risk of accidental exposure to the compounds by law enforcers.<h3>2. LECO: Determination of Nitrogen in Plastics</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/FP_928_NITROGEN_PLASTICS_203_821_669_36a7a7552c.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>The plastics industry is currently one of the largest manufacturing industries worldwide and shows continued growth. Plastics have a wide array of applications such as packaging, medical supplies, automotive parts, insulation, and many more. Plastics consist of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which are composed of polymers. Compounds containing Nitrogen are commonly used in the manufacturing of plastic materials such as initializers, plasticizers, stabilizers, and various polymerization modifiers. These compounds play an important role in the physical and mechanical properties of the plastic material. The determination of Nitrogen is crucial in the material characterization and quality control procedures for the manufacturing and molding process of plastic materials.&nbsp;The classical method utilized for Nitrogen determination in organic materials is the Kjeldahl method which involves sample digestion, distillation, and ammonia determination typically by titration. This method involves time-consuming sample preparation and the use of hazardous materials. The LECO FP928 is a Nitrogen determinator that utilizes an automated Dumas combustion method and provides accurate and precise results in approximately five minutes. This eliminates involved sample preparation and the use of hazardous materials resulting in a cost-effective method for the quality control of plastic production.&nbsp;<h4>Instrument Model and Configuration&nbsp;</h4>The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=24&amp;search=FP928">LECO FP928</a> is a macro combustion Nitrogen determinator that utilizes a pure Oxygen environment in a high-temperature horizontal ceramic combustion furnace, using ceramic or Nickel combustion boats designed to handle macro sample masses (~1.0 g). A thermoelectric cooler removes moisture from the combustion gases before they are collected in a ballast. The gases equilibrate and mix in the ballast before a representative aliquot (3 cm3 or 10 cm3 volume) of the gas is extracted and introduced into a flowing stream of inert carrier gas (Helium or Argon) for analysis. The aliquot of gas is carried through a heated reduction tube, filled with Copper, to convert Nitrogen Oxide combustion gas species (NOx) to Nitrogen (N2). The aliquot gas is then carried to a thermal conductivity cell (TC) for the detection of Nitrogen (N2)<h4>TYPICAL RESULTS&nbsp;</h4>Data was generated utilizing a linear, force through origin calibration using 502-602 Ammonium Solution (0.1% N). The calibration was verified using 502-601 Ammonium Solution (0.01% N). All reference materials and samples were weighed and analyzed at ~1.0 g. Approximately 2 ml of deionized water was added to the samples prior to analysis to reduce sooting.<h3>3. Shimadzu: Quantitative Analysis of Antacid (Aluminum) in Drug by EDX (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=EDX-7200">EDX-7200</a>)</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_00695_en_018864d4e9.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h4>User Benefits</h4><ul><li>The titration method and atomic absorption spectrophotometry require complex sample preparation, but with EDX, analysis is possible with simple sample preparation.</li><li>The analysis time is only a few minutes, contributing to work efficiency.</li><li>Repeatability is good, and highly accurate results can be obtained.</li></ul>Aluminum (Al) compounds such as aluminum hydroxide gel and synthetic hydrotalcite are widely used as antacids because they have the effect of neutralizing excess stomach acid and reducing irritation of the stomach wall. At pharmaceutical manufacturing sites, the titration method or atomic absorption spectrophotometry is generally adopted for control of antacids in drug products, but these analytical methods have the problems shown in the following Table 1.&nbsp;Because the energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (EDX) enables analysis with only simple sample preparation, and the analysis time is also short, at a few minutes per sample, higher analysis efficiency can be expected. For this reason, EDX has attracted attention as an alternative analytical method to the titration method and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. This article introduces an example of an analysis of an antacid (Al) used in commercially-available drugs.<h4>Comparison of Unknown Sample Analysis by EDX with Titration Method&nbsp;</h4>Three unknown samples were prepared (n = 3 for each sample material), and a quantitative analysis was conducted. Table 4 shows the results. The relative error of the average values obtained by the EDX method to the quantitative values obtained by the titration method showed a satisfactory correlation of 3.5 % or less.&nbsp;A significance test of the difference in the quantitative values by the two methods was carried out assuming a significance level of 5 %. Because the null hypothesis “no difference” is not rejected, it cannot be concluded that there is a difference between the two methods.EDX is a potential alternative to the titration method, and the evaluation of that possibility is based on a total judgment, including the number of unknown sample materials, the control range of the amount of addition, the variance between the two methods(homogeneity of variance test) and other factors<h4>Conclusion</h4><ol><li>EDX has the following advantages:&nbsp;</li><li>Analysis is possible with simple sample preparation.&nbsp;</li><li>Short analysis with a few minutes.&nbsp;</li><li>High repeatability.&nbsp;</li><li>Easy analysis operation.&nbsp;</li></ol>EDX is expected to be used as an alternative to the titration method in research and development and quality control work.<h3>4. Waters Corporation: Subvisible Particles: Why Don’t I Just Filter My Biologic Samples?</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/720009113_en_ccc2bf4650.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Filtration of a therapeutic is often cited as a key method to remove particles generated during the manufacturing process. From ultrafiltration and diafiltration (UF/DF) to tangential flow filtration (TFF), several methods are employed throughout the bioprocess to remove aggregates and other product impurities.1 While filtration removes preformed particles, including subvisible particles (SVPs), it does not account for the inherent instability of biologic samples, and thus subvisible aggregates can be generated over time even after filtration2 . In addition, the expansion in the complexity of biologic therapies leads to additional challenges during the manufacturing process from purification to filtration. In some cases, filtration cannot be applied as is the case with cell-based therapies. Therefore, all biologics need to be formulated to be stable over the long term, regardless of filtration.&nbsp;In this application note, we use <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2190">Aura® System</a> and backgrounded membrane imaging (BMI) to explore the effect of filtration on three different biologic formulations, two therapeutic proteins and a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation. We analyze for the presence of SVPs in these three sample types immediately after filtration and sequentially over a two-week period. Here, we learned that filtration greatly reduces the original SVP content, but SVP formation continues to increase as a function of time with a rate that is sample dependent.<h4>Results and Discussion&nbsp;</h4><h5>Impact of Filtration on SVP Counts&nbsp;</h5>In this small study across the three different samples tested (Protein 1, Protein 2 and LNPs), a significant amount (&gt;90%) of subvisible particles (&gt;0.2 µm) were removed by a single round of filtration using a 0.2 µm syringe filter. Interestingly, filtration did not remove all particles larger than the size threshold of the filter, and thus highlights the limited efficiency on SVP clearance (Figure 1a). An explanation for this includes that a single round of filtration itself is imperfect and often biologics are filtered more than once and through various methods.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Sample filtration is used as an integral part of the bioprocess to remove extraneous particles from the final drug product; however, it does not fix the inherent stability of biomolecules. Stability itself is governed by thermodynamics: time, temperature and the chemical nature of the sample and its formulation. Subvisible particles are the most important stability parameter: they highlight the presence of large physiologically relevant aggregates with the capacity to affect both safety and efficacy of any final drug product. What we have shown is that cleaning the final product using filtration doesn’t result in a stable particle-free sample risking drug efficacy and patient safety. Applying Aura System in your workflow enables rapid long-term stability assessment via a low volume, high throughput assay.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 48, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 1st December 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, LECO, Shimadzu and Waters Corporation!<h3>1. Agilent Technologies: Determination of 21 Elements in Fertilizers using Autodilution with ICP-OES</h3>Automated analysis of multinutrient fertilizers by Agilent 5800 VDV ICP-OES and ADS 2 autodilutor<ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_elements_fertilizers_autodilution_5800_icp_oes_5994_8647en_14e33bca6a.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Crop production relies heavily on fertilizers to achieve high yields, maintain soil fertility, and support sustainable agricultural practices. Fertilizers typically contain high concentrations of essential macronutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), plus lower levels of secondary and micronutrients. In addition to these beneficial elements, fertilizers may also contain contaminants such as heavy metals introduced during manufacturing or from raw materials. To ensure product efficacy, safety, and regulatory compliance, multiple nutrients and potential contaminants must be accurately measured. However, the number of analytes, concentration range, and sample-to-sample variability present significant analytical challenges for laboratories requiring robust, high-throughput, and accurate quantitative methods.Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) is a powerful technique that is widely used for the simultaneous analysis of multiple elements in complex sample matrices like fertilizers.1,2 Traditional workflows, however, often require manual preparation of calibration standards and tailored sample dilutions, processes that are time-consuming, error-prone, and can introduce contamination. Modern automation technologies such as the Agilent Advanced Dilution System (ADS 2) simplify the analysis, freeing analysts to focus on more productive tasks.3,4 Also, by enabling automatic, reactive dilutions based on sample concentration, the ADS 2 avoids manual intervention, reduces consumable usage, and improves data quality. Some key features of the ADS 2 include:&nbsp;<ul><li>Autocalibration: Automatic generation of calibration curves from one or more stock solutions. This feature significantly reduces time spent on standard preparation, minimizes waste of single-use consumables, and lowers the risk of human error, simplifying the workflow and improving data reliability.&nbsp;</li><li>Prescriptive dilutions: Automatic dilution of solutions or samples by a known (prescribed) dilution factor before analysis. This feature is useful in labs where routine dilutions occur, eliminating a time-consuming manual step from daily workflows.&nbsp;</li><li>Reactive dilutions: Automatic real-time dilution of overrange samples that exceed calibration limits. This feature eliminates the need for manual dilutions or rework after the analysis, allowing greater flexibility and efficiency within a single method.&nbsp;</li><li>Summary Row: A smart software feature that selects and displays the best measurement from multiple iterations, while retaining access to all underlying data. This feature streamlines data review and significantly reduces the time spent on manual processing and reporting.&nbsp;</li></ul>In this study, the Agilent 5800 Vertical Dual View (VDV) ICP-OES with ADS 2 autodilutor was used to determine 21 elements in multinutrient fertilizers. The elements included aluminum, arsenic, boron, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sodium, nickel, phosphorus, lead, sulfur, selenium, vanadium, and zinc.<h4>Experimental&nbsp;</h4><h5>Instrumentation&nbsp;</h5>The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=5800+VDV+ICP-OES">Agilent 5800 VDV ICP-OES</a> was configured with the integrated Agilent Advanced Switching Valve (AVS 7), ADS 2 autodilutor, and Agilent SPS 4 autosampler (Figure 1). The AVS and ADS 2 operate seamlessly together to enhance sample throughput, reduce turnaround time, and lower cost-per-sample. The ADS 2 enabled automated, precise preparation of calibration standards and sample dilutions, minimizing analyst workload and consumables use. Importantly, its integration with the AVS 7 ensures that no additional time is added when dilution is not required, overcoming a common limitation of other dilution systems. The SPS 4 autosampler provided automated sample delivery to the instrument. The 5800 ICP-OES was equipped with a SeaSpray nebulizer, double-pass cyclonic spray chamber, and Agilent semi-demountable VDV torch with a 1.8 mm id injector. All components were controlled by the Agilent ICP Expert Pro software5 (the ADS 2 is compatible with ICP Expert software version 7.7 or later). Automated Fitted Background Correction (FBC) was selected for background correction of each analyte.6<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>The Agilent 5800 VDV ICP-OES paired with the Agilent ADS 2 autodilutor enabled the fast, high-throughput, multi-elemental analysis of fertilizer samples. The accurate quantification of 21 major and trace elements in microwave-digested fertilizer samples was assisted by the following features of the ADS 2:&nbsp;<ul><li>Autocalibration: Calibration standards from 0 to 10 mg/L were automatically prepared from a single stock solution, minimizing manual preparation and ensuring consistent, accurate calibration across the range. Additional higher concentration standards were used for selected elements.&nbsp;</li><li>Prescriptive dilutions: Automatic dilution of solutions were performed using a known (prescribed) dilution factor before analysis, removing time-consuming and error-prone manual dilutions of the SRM samples.&nbsp;</li><li>Reactive dilution: Overrange analyte concentrations in two fertilizer samples triggered dynamic, real-time dilution, eliminating the need for prescreening or manual intervention. This reactive dilution capability streamlined the workflow.&nbsp;</li><li>Summary Row: The software feature automatically selected and displayed the most reliable results from multiple measurements of each fertilizer sample, simplifying data review while maintaining full traceability.</li></ul>The automated-ICP-OES method produced high-quality results, with MDLs below 1 mg/kg for most elements. Accuracy was excellent, with all recoveries for both NIST 695 fertilizer SRM and spiked fertilizer samples falling within 100 ± 10% of expected values. The method also demonstrated excellent stability and robustness over nine hours. Following a 10x automatic prescriptive dilution of each QC using the ADS 2, recoveries ranged from 95 to 105%, with %RSDs below 3.5% for all elements, demonstrating the reproducibility of the autodilutor.&nbsp;This study confirms the suitability of the 5800 VDV ICP-OES for quantifying major, minor, and trace nutrients, as well as contaminant elements, in three commercial fertilizers— supporting regulatory compliance and product quality assurance. Productivity of the method was further enhanced by the ADS 2, which minimized manual handling and reduced the risk of errors during standard and sample preparation.<h3>2. LECO: Determination of Nitrogen in Fertilizer</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/FP_828_NITROGEN_FERTILIZER_203_821_625_5c75967878.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Nitrogen is one of the most important elements for plant development and is the macronutrient that is most often found to be deficient in arable soils used for crop production. Nitrogen plays a key role in the formation of enzymes and proteins, which promotes lush vigorous growth and development in plants that often leads to an increase in the yield from the plant. Fertilizers are utilized to re-introduce nitrogen back into arable soils. Fertilizers can be grouped by their makeup and/or origins into categories including inorganic and/or synthetic (including nitrates, ammonium, and urea) and organic (including compost materials and manures). The accurate and precise determination of nitrogen in all fertilizer types is not only important in the process of blending and preparing the fertilizer material for use, but also will have significant impact on the commercial value and guarantee of the fertilizer.&nbsp;The<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=24&amp;search=FP828"> LECO FP828</a> is a combustion nitrogen/protein determinator that utilizes a pure oxygen environment in a vertical quartz furnace. A thermoelectric cooler removes moisture from the combustion gases before they are collected in a ballast. The gases equilibrate and mix in the ballast before a representative aliquot (3 cm3 or 10 cm3 volume) of the combustion gas is extracted and introduced into a flowing stream of inert gas (helium or argon) for analysis. The aliquot gas is carried to a thermal conductivity (TC) cell for the detection of nitrogen (N2).<h4>Instrument Model and Configuration&nbsp;</h4>Thermal conductivity detectors work by detecting changes in the thermal conductivity of the analyte gas compared to a reference/carrier gas. The greater the difference between the thermal conductivity of the carrier gas and the analyte gas, the greater sensitivity of the detector. The FP828 supports either the use of helium or argon as the instrument's carrier gas. When used as a carrier gas, helium provides the highest sensitivity, and the best performance at the lower limit of the nitrogen range. Argon can also be used as a carrier gas. The thermal conductivity difference between argon and nitrogen is not as great as the thermal conductivity difference between helium and nitrogen, therefore the detector is inherently less sensitive when using argon as a carrier gas.<h4>TYPICAL RESULTS&nbsp;</h4>Data was generated utilizing a linear, forced through origin calibration using ~0.05 g of NIST 913b Uric Acid (33% N). Alternatively, LECO 503-530 LCRM Urea may be used for calibration. The calibration was verified using LECO 502-896 (Lot 1002) EDTA (9.57% N).<h3>3. Shimadzu: Cross-Sectional Analysis of Power Semiconductor and Silver Sintering Die Attach Material</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_00989_en_47b98a7a6e.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h4>User Benefits</h4><ul><li>Useful in evaluation of the particle shape of silver sintering die attach materials.</li><li>Useful in evaluation of the sintered condition, such as voids, and the diffusion of elements at the bonding interface in silver sintering.</li><li>Useful in research on surface properties, such as the film thickness in metalizing treatment</li></ul>Power semiconductors are used in a wide range of applications, from household electrical appliances and automotive devices to power transmission and distribution systems. Recently, SiC (silicon carbide) semiconductors, which allow high-temperature operation, have attracted attention as a substitute for conventional Si (silicon) semiconductors. With application of SiC, the operating temperature of power semiconductors is expected to increase to 200 ˚C or more in the future. However, in this case, the heat resistance of the die bond where semiconductor chips are bonded to a substrate becomes an issue, as high-temperature operation may cause deterioration or embrittlement of the joining material.&nbsp;Silver (Ag) sintering materials can withstand high temperatures exceeding 200 ˚C and have excellent thermal conductivity, enhancing heat dissipation and realizing improved temperature management of devices. Since embrittlement can be preventing by using Ag sintering materials, thereby improving the reliability of the bonds, Ag particles have attracted interest as a die bond material with excellent heat dissipation.&nbsp;This Application News article introduces an example of analysis of a power semiconductor using an EPMA electron probe microanalyzer (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=EPMA-8050G">EPMA-8050G</a>).<h4>Power Semiconductors&nbsp;</h4>With conventional Si semiconductor, a large amount of energy may be lost during power conversion, but energy loss can be improved significantly by introducing a SiC widegap power semiconductor. SiC has a wide bandgap and is superior in terms of pressure resistance and heat resistance due to its excellent thermal conductivity, which allows efficient management of generated heat and stable operation even under hightemperature environments 1), 2) .&nbsp;In the vertical package structure of a power semiconductor device, wiring is formed on the SiC device surface, and the heat generated by the semiconductor (die) is dissipated downward. The back of the SiC chip analyzed here was metalized by ion plating. Titanium (Ti) plating, nickel (Ni) plating, and gold (Au) plating were carried out. The AMB (Active Metal Brazing) substrate consisted of a three-layer structure of a pure copper (Cu) substrate, a ceramic substrate, and a pure Cu substrate. High bond strength and thermal conductivity were secured in the SiC chip and the AMB substrate by sintering Ag particles.&nbsp;<h4>Conclusion</h4>In response to high-temperature operation of power semiconductor devices, Ag particles have attracted considerable attention as a die bond material. Their high-temperature resistance and superior heat dissipation properties are expected to improve device reliability and are being utilized in research and development, such as evaluation of the bond interface.<h3>4. Waters Corporation: Identify and Characterize Particles in the Visible Size Range with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2190">Aura</a></h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/720009112_en_ec644950a4.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Characterizing large visible contaminants is essential for patient safety and mandated by both USP 788, 790, and 1046. Drug formulations for parenteral injection are required to meet certain standards for subvisible particles (&gt;100 µm) and must be completely free of visible particles (&gt;1 µm–100 µm).1 Therefore, subvisible and visible particle analysis is necessary throughout the drug development process to ensure that products do not produce unwanted adverse side-effects or reductions in efficacy.2 However, traditional detection methods for subvisible and visible particles like dynamic flow imaging (FI) and light obscuration (LO) are plagued by a number of limitations that hamper analysis, including:<ul><li>Particle fragmentation, also known as clipping, observed during particle detection with flow imaging techniques.3</li><li>A low refractive index contrast encountered when measuring biologic particles in liquid media that makes it difficult to distinguish translucent particles from background.4</li><li>A small depth of focus in a wide fluidic channel area that exacerbates particle fragmentation and dramatically reduces sampling efficiency. This makes accurate large particle detection nearly impossible.</li><li>Clogging that occurs when visible particles flow through the fluidic chambers of flow-based systems like FI or LO.</li><li>Visible particle inspection performed by manual operators that is highly error prone.5</li></ul><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2190">Aura™ Systems</a> are powered by backgrounded membrane imaging (BMI), a USP 788 Method 2 compliant digital imaging method that conducts both subvisible and visible particle analysis. Calibrated using a microscopy reference slide, Aura provides accurate and linear data for particles up to 5.6 mm in equivalent circular diameter on 96-well small volume plates and 14 mm on 24-well large volume plates, well into the visible range.&nbsp;In this application note, we demonstrate the capability of Aura instruments and Particle Vue Software to characterize visible particle aggregates stemming from various biologic drug formulation processes. A comparison of both visible and subvisible NIST ethylene tetrafluoro ethylene (ETFE), large adeno-associated virus (AAV) aggregates, large cellular aggregates from CAR-T cell therapies, and large fibrous contaminants in cell therapies are used as models to illustrate how Aura can analyze a range of samples while providing accurate size characterizations. In addition, side illumination membrane images (SIMI) and fluorescent membrane microscopy images (FMM) provide further information about the visible particle samples and their nature.<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>Aura particle analysis systems and Particle Vue Software can analyze particles well into the visible size range, solving a long-standing analytical problem in biologic, cell, and gene therapy characterization. BMI enables accurate sizing and morphological determination of large aggregates and Aura’s FMM, present in both the Aura and Aura CL Systems, allows for specific particle identification to understand the nature and origin of the visible aggregates. Accurately size, characterize, and identify particles from small to large for all biological samples using Aura to ensure proper assessment of both visible and sub visible particles.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 49, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 12th January 2026? 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, Shimadzu, and Waters Corporation and brochure by Thermo Fisher Scientific!<h3>1. Agilent Technologies: Detecting Spice Adulteration with the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=8700+LDIR">Agilent 8700 LDIR</a> Chemical Imaging System</h3>Accelerating adulterant detection in turmeric with IR spectroscopy and imaging&nbsp;<ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_spice_adulteration_8700_ldir_5994_8800en_agilent_235b48c7e6.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Spices are essential components of culinary practices worldwide, valued for their flavor, aroma, and health benefits. However, the intentional or accidental adulteration of spices with cheaper or foreign substances poses significant risks to both food quality and consumer safety. Adulteration practices often aim to increase product volume, enhance visual appeal, or mimic authentic flavors, compromising the integrity of the final product.1Common adulteration practices include substituting genuine plant materials with cheaper or visually similar ones, using inferior plant species or parts, and mixing with fillers such as corn starch, bran, or sawdust. Some products are also adulterated with chemicals to enhance flavor, inorganic substances such as sand, chalk, or red brick powder, or illegal dyes such as Sudan dyes and rhodamine B to intensify&nbsp;color.1–4&nbsp;Current tools for detecting adulteration in herbs and spices face several challenges. Sampling across complex supply chains often lacks consistency, making it difficult to obtain representative samples.5 The chemical and physical complexity of sample matrices, combined with natural variation among species and origins, complicates data interpretation.5&nbsp;In&nbsp;ground or powdered spices, the original plant structures are lost, making it difficult to visually or morphologically identify adulterants, particularly when they are fine or physically similar to the genuine&nbsp;material.6 An <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=8700+LDIR">Agilent 8700 Laser Direct Infrared (LDIR) chemical imaging system</a> (Figure&nbsp;1) was used in this study to detect spice adulteration through the integration of infrared spectroscopy and&nbsp;microscopy<h4>Experimental&nbsp;</h4>Agilent Clarity software: To evaluate the 8700 LDIR's capability in distinguishing genuine spices from common adulterants, a series of pure and adulterated samples were prepared and analyzed using the system's automated Particle Analysis (PA) workflow.<h4>Results and discussion&nbsp;</h4><h5>Identification of pure spices (turmeric)&nbsp;</h5>To verify the 8700 LDIR and the user&nbsp;generated library in identifying particles of varying sizes, shapes, and counts, the pure turmeric sample was analyzed as an "unknown". Turmeric sample identification demonstrated high spectral matching accuracy. Within the selected analysis area, 74&nbsp;particles were detected and 70&nbsp;particles (94.6%) were matched to the turmeric reference spectra in the custom library. Notably, 64 particles achieved Hit Quality Index (HQI) values exceeding 0.8, indicating strong spectral correlation and high confidence in the identification data (Figure 2).<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>This study demonstrates the suitability of the Agilent 8700 LDIR chemical imaging system with Agilent Clarity software as an effective tool for detecting adulteration in ground spices. Using the automated Particle Analysis (PA) workflow, the system quickly and reliably distinguished turmeric from both organic (corn starch) and inorganic (sand) adulterants based on their distinct IR spectral signatures.&nbsp;Differentiating between chemically similar spices remains challenging due to overlapping IR profiles. However, the 8700 LDIR system's ability to build custom spectral libraries offers flexibility for targeted authentication, allowing laboratories to adapt the system to their evolving analytical needs.&nbsp;A key advantage of the 8700 LDIR method is the speed and simplicity of sample preparation—dry powders can be analyzed directly on low-e slides without solvents or extraction. By combining the high-throughput automated PA workflow with integrated imaging, the 8700 LDIR provides a practical, time-saving solution for routine analysis in food testing&nbsp;laboratories.<h3>2. Shimadzu: Observation of the Automotive Cylindrical Lithium-Ion Battery “4680” Using a Micro-Focus X-ray CT System</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_01060_en_5e744626ad.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h4>User Benefits</h4><ul><li>The internal structure of the “4680” cylindrical lithium-ion battery for automotive use, which is a market trend, can be observed nondestructively.&nbsp;</li><li>Electrode placement and bonding condition can be verified, which is useful for product quality inspection.</li></ul>In recent years, with the proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs), the development of high-performance, low-cost automotive batteries has become an urgent priority. Among these, the cylindrical lithium-ion battery “4680” has attracted particular attention. Compared with the conventional “2170,” the “4680” is larger, and its energy density per cell is increased, thereby extending vehicle range. In addition, the adoption of a tab-less structure reduces internal resistance, improving charge/discharge efficiency and thermal management performance, while simplification of the manufacturing process is expected to reduce cost. Owing to these characteristics, the “4680” is drawing attention across both industry and academia as a core technology for next-generation EVs. Meanwhile, lithium-ion batteries are always subject to concerns about the risk of ignition and explosion due to internal short circuits or foreign matter inclusion. Because X-ray CT enables nondestructive testing (NDT) with three-dimensional visualization of internal structures, it is possible to detect fine defects such as electrode misalignment, separator damage, and foreign matter inclusion.&nbsp;This article introduces a case study in which the cylindrical lithium-ion battery “4680” for automotive applications was observed using the microfocus <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=inspeXio+7000">X-ray CT system inspeXio 7000</a> (Fig. 1).<h4>Conclusion</h4>We presented a case study of imaging the cylindrical lithium-ion battery “4680” using a microfocus X-ray CT system. By nondestructively visualizing its three-dimensional structure, it is possible to obtain important information on the battery’s internal structure, such as the arrangement of electrodes and their bonding state. Thus, X-ray CT is shown to be a powerful tool that contributesto the advancement of battery technology.<h3>3. Thermo Fisher Scientific: MarqMetrix All-In-One X Process Raman Analyzer</h3>Enabling accurate, real-time results for process monitoring in hazardous locations<ul><li>Brochure</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/marqmetrix_all_in_one_x_process_raman_analyzer_ds1339_en_c1739807d2.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2208">Thermo Scientific™ MarqMetrix™ All-In-One X Process Raman Analyzer </a>is a compact, portable spectrometer designed for fast deployment and ease of use. Built for industries where rapid time-to-results is critical, it is designed to be intrinsically and inherently safe for operation within hazardous locations, in such applications as:&nbsp;<ul><li>Midstream and downstream oil &amp; gas operations&nbsp;</li><li>Chemical and polymer applications&nbsp;</li><li>Pharmaceutical development and manufacturing</li></ul><h4>The MarqMetrix All-In-One X Analyzer offers multiple operational advantages:&nbsp;</h4><ul><li>Analysis without sample preparation, delivering Raman spectral results in real time&nbsp;</li><li>Easy setup and deployment by non-spectroscopists&nbsp;</li><li>Intrinsically and inherently safe optical power to robust probes, which can be deployed in hazardous locations: up to ATEX Zone 0 (Europe &amp; Middle East), IECEx (Asia), and Class 1 Div 1 (North America)&nbsp;</li><li>Nondestructive workflows to protect precious samples&nbsp;</li><li>A small footprint for convenient deployment&nbsp;</li><li>Factory calibration for hardware stability and portability&nbsp;</li></ul>The MarqMetrix All-In-One X Process Raman Analyzer is designed for out-of-the-box use, enabling you to be ready in less than 15 minutes to collect highly accurate Raman measurements. Pack this analyzer in a protective case and take it to the point of need; its factory calibration ensures continuous and precise analysis on the go. Easily integrate the MarqMetrix All-In-One X Process Raman Analyzer into your existing process without the need for costly technical expertise. Once implemented, the analyzer enables operators in hazardous locations to make faster, safer, and smarter decisions by delivering real-time compositional insights directly on site.<h3>4. Waters Corporation: Residual Dynabeads Detection with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2190">Aura+</a></h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/720009096_en_aeb7e4288f.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Autologous cell therapies have seen explosive growth as evidenced by the recent landmark FDA approvals of two CAR-T cell therapies, Yescarta® and Kymriah®. 1 Dynabeads™ are commonly used in cell therapy manufacturing process to expand and activate CAR-T cells.2 CD3/CD28 Dynabeads specifically are one of the leading approved GMP expression beads for T cell therapies and are key to achieving the potency required of these novel medicines. Dynabeads are also efficiently removed from the final product to ensure final purity. However, residual CD3/CD28 beads present a significant risk patients’ safety and therefore are generally kept below a widely accepted but not yet regulatory controlled limit of 100 residual beads per 3,000,000 cells.3–4&nbsp;Residual bead analysis is currently performed with manual hemocytometry that uses light microscopy and manual counting. However, manual hemocytometry is prone to human error, which leads to significant bead undercounting because it is incredibly difficult to find and differentiate between Dynabeads and cells in a sample, making residual bead counting one of the most challenging cell therapy lot release assays. Other traditional cell and subvisible analysis tools, including flow cytometers, also undercount beads and cannot differentiate residual Dynabeads from cells and other subvisible particles.&nbsp;In this technical note, we show step-by-step how Aura CL and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2190">Aura+</a> enable fast, accurate, sensitive, and specific residual Dynabead detection in a concentrated cell therapy product. Powered by backgrounded membrane imaging (BMI) to characterize the entire cell therapy particle population and side illumination membrane imaging (SIMI) to specifically detect Dynabeads, Aura® CL and Aura®+ are the first and only tailored solutions to find and count these hard to detect contaminants.<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>Analysis of the cell therapy sample on Aura CL or Aura+ begins with the BMI well image, where sharp contrast, high resolution optics provide the landscape to count and size all the particles in your cell therapy product. SIMI imaging, which is run at the same time as BMI, enables the differentiation of biologic vs. non-biologic particles which is essential to this application. Figures 2 and 3 capture how BMI detects all particles present in a cell therapy sample, while SIMI mode selects for particles of higher refractive index contrast. In BMI mode, cells, Dynabeads, and mixtures of the two were all easily visible. However, in SIMI mode, only the residual Dynabeads were detected both in the standard high-throughput 4x mode and in the 10x high magnification mode. This is essential for specific detection of residual Dynabeads given their low abundance in a highly concentrated cell sample as shown in Figure 4. We determined that the limit of quantitation (LOQ) of Dynabeads is &lt;1 bead/well (or 18 beads/mL of sample), well below the hemacytometer residual bead detection rate of 1 bead per 10,000 cells. Additionally, the bead counts in our dilution series exhibited a linear relationship, measuring an R2 of 0.98. Using Aura CL or Aura+ for residual Dynabead detection provides greater accuracy and higher-throughput in counting compared to the cumbersome and error prone currently used methods. Resolving false positive counts can be easily rectified by measuring the particles at higher magnification, where single Dynabeads identity can be confirmed by size. Aura CL and Aura+ deliver the only automated way of measuring single Dynabeads in concentrated cell therapy solutions, while also offering built in orthogonal confirmation through various objectives and light sources.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 03, 2026

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 23rd March 2026? 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 LECO, Shimadzu and Waters Corporation and brochure by Thermo Fisher Scientific!<h3>1. LECO: Determination of Nitrogen in Fertilizer</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CN_FP_928_NITROGEN_FERTILIZERS_203_821_615_4d4b013a08.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Nitrogen is one of the most important elements for plant development and is the macronutrient that is most often found to be deficient in arable soils used for crop production. Nitrogen plays a key role in the formation of enzymes and proteins, which promotes lush, vigorous growth and development in plants that often leads to an increase in the yield from the plant. Fertilizers are utilized to re-introduce nitrogen back into arable soils. Fertilizers can be grouped by their makeup and/or origins into categories including inorganic and/or synthetic (including nitrates, ammonium, and urea) and organic (including compost materials and manures). The accurate and precise determination of nitrogen in all fertilizer types is not only important in the process of blending and preparing the fertilizer material for use, but also will have significant impact on the commercial value and guarantee of the fertilizer.&nbsp;The CN928/FP928 is a macro combustion carbon and nitrogen/protein determinator that utilizes a pure oxygen environment in a high-temperature horizontal ceramic combustion furnace designed to handle macro sample mass. A thermoelectric cooler removes moisture from the combustion gases before they are collected in a ballast. The gases equilibrate and mix in the ballast before a representative aliquot (3 cm3 or 10 cm3 volume) of the gas is extracted and introduced into a flowing stream of inert gas (helium or argon) for analysis. The aliquot gas is carried to a thermal conductivity cell (TC) for the detection of nitrogen (N2).<h4>Instrument Model and Configuration&nbsp;</h4>Thermal conductivity detectors work by detecting changes in the thermal conductivity of the analyte gas compared to the constant thermal conductivity of the reference/carrier gas. The greater the difference between the thermal conductivity of the carrier gas and the analyte gas, the greater the sensitivity of the detector. The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=24&amp;search=CN928">CN928</a>/<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=24&amp;search=FP928">FP928</a> supports either the use of helium or argon as the instrument's carrier gas. When used as a carrier gas, helium provides the highest sensitivity, and the best performance at the lower limit of the nitrogen range. The thermal conductivity difference between argon and nitrogen is not as great as the thermal conductivity difference between helium and nitrogen, therefore the detector is inherently less sensitive when using argon as a carrier gas.<h4>TYPICAL RESULTS&nbsp;</h4>Data was generated utilizing a single standard, forced through origin calibration using ~ 0.1 g of NIST 913b Uric Acid (33.23% N). Alternatively, LECO 503-530 LCRM Urea may be used for calibration.<h3>2. Shimadzu: Evaluation of Microscopic Foreign Matter in Recycled Plastics Using Dynamic Image Analysis, Infrared Microscopy, and SEM-EDS</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_00861_en_7485baba21.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h4>User Benefits</h4><ul><li>&nbsp;It is easy to evaluate the size and quantity of microscopic foreign particles, which are key quality criteria of recycled plastics.</li><li>With the microcell method of DIA, microscopic foreign matter can be detected and counted quickly using a small sample quantity.</li><li>Infrared microscope and SEM-EDS systems provide information about the morphology and composition of microscopic foreign matter that is useful for improving recycling processes.</li></ul>One of the quality criteria for recycled plastic flakes and pellets is the content of foreign matter. Quantitatively evaluating the size and quantity of foreign particles contained in flakes and pellets is important for examining foreign matter removal processes intended to improve pellet quality and optimize manufacturing processesfor products made with recycled materials.&nbsp;In this article, pellets of virgin and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (hereafter PET) were dissolved in hexafluoro-2-propanol (hereafter HFIP), a solvent for dissolving PET, to prepare suspensions of insoluble microscopic foreign particles. These suspensions were measured with a dynamic particle image analysis (DIA) system (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=iSpect+DIA-10">iSpect DIA-10</a>) to evaluate the size and number of insoluble microscopic foreign particles (patent pending). In addition, part of the suspensions were diluted tenfold and filtered through a membrane filter to collect the insoluble microscopic foreign particles on the filter. The morphology and composition of the collected microscopic foreign particles were evaluated using a digital microscope, an infrared microscope system (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=IRTracer-100">IRTracer-100</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=AIM-9000">AIM-9000</a>), and an SEM-EDS system. These evaluations enabled comparison of the sizes, quantities, and types of foreign particles contained in virgin and recycled materials.<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>By using an iSpect DIA-10 system to measure suspensions prepared by dissolving two types of PET pellets (virgin and recycled) in HFIP, we obtained particle images of insoluble foreign matter and evaluated size and concentration of particles. That enabled quantitative comparison of particle size and count in microscopic foreign matter contained in virgin and recycled materials.&nbsp;In addition, after diluting the pellet suspensions, the insoluble microscopic foreign matter in the diluted suspensions was collected on filters. The morphology and composition of the microscopic foreign matter were evaluated using an infrared microscope and SEM-EDS system. The results indicated that the suspensions contained organic substances, such as cellulose and amide-based compounds, and inorganic substances and metals that contain elements such as C, O, Ca, and Al (suggestive of carbonates and metallic aluminum).&nbsp;Thus, the iSpect DIA-10 enables simple quantitative evaluation of the size and number of microscopic foreign particles in PET pellets using only small sample quantities. Furthermore, composition evaluation by infrared microscope and SEM-EDS systems provides useful information for investigating the origin of foreign matter, examining measures to reduce foreign matter, and evaluating impacts on final products. If similarities in size and shape are observed, particle images obtained with iSpect DIA-10 can also potentially be used to estimate particle composition.<h3>3. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Ensuring safer and effective pharmaceutical formulations by X-ray diffraction</h3><ul><li>Brochures and specifications</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/PF_41381_xrd_solutions_pharma_9b89684165.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>From drug discovery and preformulation studies to the efficient scaling up in the manufacturing process in the plant and finally through QA/QC validation, X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a vital analysis method in the characterization of different physico-chemical properties of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). XRD is a gold standard method and required technique in the determination of polymorphic and salt screening, % of crystallinity and stability/reactivity studies of the final API.&nbsp;<h5><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2297">Thermo Scientific™ SolstiX™ XRD Software</a> with Security Suite extends ARL EQUINOX 100 X-ray Diffractometers to 21 CFR Part 11 regulated labs&nbsp;</h5><ul><li>Protect stored electronic data related to quality assurance within manufacturer’s computer systems&nbsp;</li><li>Put controls in place to keep records authentic, incorruptible, and confidential&nbsp;</li><li>Electronic signatures for the user to take responsibility for the electronic data in the system&nbsp;</li><li>Requirements in the data record: date and time of scan, name of the unique signer, and technological controls to ensure security (e.g. passwords)&nbsp;</li></ul><h5><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2143">Thermo Scientific™ ARL™ EQUINOX 100 X-ray benchtop diffractometer</a> is designed to exceed your analytical needs&nbsp;</h5><ul><li>Ideally suited for rapid screening of various formulations, finger printing or detection of counterfeit products&nbsp;</li><li>Polymorphism and crystallinity determination, crystallite size calculation, quantitative phase analysis, reactivity and stability of materials, etc.&nbsp;</li><li>XRD experiments on standard powders, bulks, tablets, small quantities, etc.&nbsp;</li><li>Real-time full pattern XRD based on our unique PSD detector technology&nbsp;</li><li>X-ray source based on micro-source technology with no external water cooling</li><li>Unique dual-mode capability: reflection and/or transmission&nbsp;</li></ul><h5>Thermo Scientific™ ARL™ EQUINOX 100 XRD for structural analysis&nbsp;</h5><ul><li>Easy-to-use simultaneous full pattern XRD based on unique real time PSD detector technology&nbsp;</li><li>Unique dual-mode capability on a benchtop XRD instrument: reflection and/or transmission mode&nbsp;</li><li>XRD experiments on various samples with sample spinner, capillary stage, sample changer or in controlled environment</li></ul><h5>Top XRD benefits for pharma&nbsp;</h5><ul><li>Structural characterization technique&nbsp;</li><li>Nondestructive technique&nbsp;</li><li>Small amount of sample needed for analysis&nbsp;</li><li>Unique diffraction patterns and quick response&nbsp;</li><li>Analysis on mixtures as well as amorphous content&nbsp;</li><li>Easy determination of induced structural changes</li></ul><h3>4. Waters Corporation: SIMI: A Different Approach to Revealing Dangerous Subvisible Impurities</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/720009094_en_fb955e89ec.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Foreign particulate matter, also known as extrinsic particles, has become a serious threat to patient safety in recent years, with cases linked to severe immunogenic reactions, deaths, and costly recalls.1 In 2021 alone, Takeda recalled 1.6 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in Japan after several patient deaths were linked to steel particulates shed from a malfunctioning pump.2 Over the span of seven years, from 2014–2017, there were more than 110 drug recalls as a result of glass delamination,3–4 and several more due to remnant crystals,5 owing to the difficulty of identifying the presence and source of foreign particulate matter. To prevent against such threats, manufacturers require high throughput technologies to better identify foreign particulate matter in real time.<h4>Results and Discussion</h4><h5>Shining a Light on Extrinsic Particles with SIMI</h5>Side illumination membrane imaging (SIMI) is a proprietary illumination, imaging, and analysis technique exclusively available to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2190">Aura instruments</a>. Utilizing the principles of darkfield microscopy,6 SIMI is conducted on an Aura membrane plate using an oblique illumination source which emits light at an angle parallel to the surface of the plate.&nbsp;Compared to backgrounded membrane imaging (BMI), which utilizes brightfield microscopy (epi-illumination) where particles scatter the incident light isotropically (i.e., at all angles), side illumination membrane maging (SIMI) is a technique that is specifically designed to detect light scattering from high refractive index particles, as well as those that protrude out of the plane from the membrane surface. A particle’s average SIMI intensity is measured in a relative scale where the inherent SIMI scattering of the membrane is defined as SIMI = 0. Positive SIMI values indicate particles protruding out of the membrane, as is the case with microplastics, fibers, and other common extrinsic particles, whose average SIMI intensities vary from 0–255. On some occasions, like with metallic particles and absorbing oils, particles will have reduced light refraction relative to the membrane and thus display negative SIMI values, varying from 0 to -122.&nbsp;The majority of foreign, extrinsic particles exhibit a high refractive index and are mechanically rigid in structure, causing them to protrude from the membrane surface and scatter side illumination to a high degree, ideal for SIMI analysis. In contrast, biologic particles exhibit the opposite properties—low refractive index and malleable structures, causing them to lie flat with minimal side scatter profiles, which is best analyzed with BMI or fluorescence membrane microscopy (FMM). Utilizing all three microscopy approaches is most ideal to facilitate the determination of all extrinsic (non-biologic) and inherent (biologic) particles in biologic formulations.<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>SIMI is a unique approach to providing additional characterization of subvisible particles and is available in all Aura models to help rapidly identify foreign material in biological samples with a high degree of specificity. A key tertiary imaging mode in addition to BMI and FMM, SIMI provides selective, orthogonal morphological information to identify tall and rigid materials, a defining feature of most extrinsic particles (Figure 11). While particle sizing and counting is done via BMI, SIMI provides illumination, imaging, and analysis that can be useful across a variety of biological products to reveal foreign subvisible particles from the earliest to the latest of stages in the bioprocess.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 13, 2026

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 30th March 2026? 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 Metrohm, Shimadzu, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Waters Corporation!<h3>1. Metrohm: Quantification of methanol in contaminated spirits</h3>Protecting consumers from contaminated beverages<ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_rs_056_download_3b37cb883a.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>An alarming global trend highlights the serious harm that can result from ingesting illegal, improperly distilled alcohol. Home-distilled spirits prepared using industrial solvents (i.e., wood alcohol) and presented as legitimate alcoholic beverages often contain methanol. Methanol causes blindness and can lead to death when ingested. This has led to fatal consequences around the world [1–3].&nbsp;The breaking point for the Czech Republic came in September 2012. The sale of hard liquor was temporarily banned after 20 people died from the consumption of spirits with dangerous levels of methanol [2]. After an exhaustive study using various screening tools, the Czech Republic adopted Raman spectroscopy as the method of choice for identifying and quantifying methanol in contaminated spirits. This Application Note demonstrates how Raman spectroscopy can be employed as an efficient and rapid screening method for samples of rum contaminated with methanol.<h4>EXPERIMENT&nbsp;</h4>This example study measures commercially available coconut rum that is spiked with methanol in concentrations between 0.33% and 5.36%. The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=220&amp;search=iRaman">iRaman NxG 785H</a> with a fiber-optic probe is used to collect Raman spectra of the mixtures (Figure 3). Table 1 lists the relevant equipment and instrument settings used for this application study. The peak at around 1000 cm-1 (highlighted by the inlay of Figure 3) visibly increases with increasing concentration of methanol, becoming significant at approximately 1%.<h4>CONCLUSION</h4>These results validate that Raman spectroscopy can be used for rapid, quantitative screening of dangerous adulterants in alcoholic beverages. This technique can be expanded to investigate adulteration in other media such as food, petroleum, and pharmaceutical drugs [4].<h3>2. Shimadzu: Evaluation of Organic Impurities in Lithium Carbonate by TOC Analysis</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_01098_en_ec9b3e73fc.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h4>User Benefits</h4><ul><li>TOC analysis enables effective control of organic impurities in lithium carbonate.</li><li>Using the combustion tube kit for high-salt samples can extend the lifespan of the combustion tube and catalyst, reducing maintenance frequency.</li><li>With the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=ASI-L+autosampler">ASI-L autosampler</a>, multiple samples can be measured automatically, improving throughput and efficiency</li></ul>Lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) is an important material used in a wide range of applications in the lithium-ion battery industry. For example, it is used as a lithium source for cathode active material synthesis and electrolyte salt production, as a raw material for oxide-based solid electrolytes, and as a form of lithium commonly recovered in recycling processes.&nbsp;Because impurities in lithium carbonate can affect downstream processes and final products, appropriate control is essential. In particular, organic impurities require especially careful attention because they may originate from so many sources, such as solvents and processing aids used during purification, residual organics from manufacturing steps, or contamination introduced during handling and storage.&nbsp;Total organic carbon (TOC) analysis offers an effective way to manage such organic impurities in raw materials. This article presents an example of using a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=TOC-L">Shimadzu TOC-L</a> total organic carbon analyzer (Fig. 1) to evaluate the TOC content of lithium carbonate.<h4>TOC Analysis&nbsp;</h4><h5>TOC Analysis Methods&nbsp;</h5>Two commonly used methods are available for TOC analysis:&nbsp;(1) TC - IC method: Total carbon (TC) and inorganic carbon (IC) are measured separately, and then TOC is calculated as the difference (TOC = TC – IC).(2) NPOC method: TOC is measured as non-purgeable organic carbon (NPOC). After acidifying the sample to pH &lt; 3, IC is subsequently removed by sparging and the remaining carbon is measured as TC, which is regarded as TOC. The acidification and sparging steps are performed automatically by the instrument.&nbsp;For lithium carbonate solutions, the amount of carbonatederived IC is typically very high. As a result, the TC–IC method tends to yield calculated TOC values with a larger relative error. Therefore, the NPOC method isrecommended.&nbsp;In lithium carbonate solutions prepared as described above, IC is expected to be present mainly as bicarbonate (HCO3 –) and carbonic acid (H2CO3). If IC is not fully removed during NPOC pretreatment, the TOC result may be overestimated. Therefore, thorough IC removal is critical for samples with high IC content. For actual samples, sparging parameters, such as sparge gas flow rate and sparge time settings, can be adjusted.&nbsp;<h5>Combustion Tube for High-Salt Samples&nbsp;</h5>The prepared lithium carbonate solution contains a large amount of salts. When a large number of salt-containing samples are analyzed, salts may accumulate inside the combustion tube, which can lead to catalyst clogging, reduced sensitivity, and poorer repeatability.For this analysis, the optional combustion tube for high-salt samples was used, shown in Fig. 2. The high-salt combustion tube has a larger diameter than the standard combustion tube and contains larger catalyst particles to help mitigate saltrelated clogging. Thus, the frequency of combustion tube replacement can be significantly reduced.<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>In this article, TOC analysis was performed for a 10 g/L lithium carbonate solution using a Shimadzu TOC-L total organic carbon analyzer. By measuring TOC in the prepared solution, the TOC content in the lithium carbonate solid was calculated. The results showed good recovery rates in the spike-recovery test and consistent performance was also confirmed during long-term continuous analysis. These findings demonstrate that the TOC-L is a reliable solution for measuring TOC in lithium carbonate and for effective management of organic impurities.&nbsp;When applying the NPOC method to lithium salt-containing solutions, careful selection of the acid is essential because salts formed during acidification can affect both data quality and instrument condition. For this example, sulfuric acid is recommended.In addition, using the optional combustion tube kit for high-salt samples can extend the lifespan of the combustion tube and catalyst, thereby reducing maintenance frequency. This option is especially helpful for samples with high salt concentrations.&nbsp;In addition to lithium carbonate, the TOC-L can also be applied to TOC analysis of lithium hydroxide solutions, determination of water-extractable TOC in recycled black mass, and analytical needs in lithium refining processes based on direct lithium extraction (DLE). With its broad applicability across various upstream materials, recycling streams, and refining processes, the TOC-L supports both quality control and process optimization operations throughout the lithium-ion battery value chain.<h3>3. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Evaluating Silicon using Raman Microscopy</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/vib_silicon_analysis_with_raman_microscope_app_note_mcs_an1232_en_11_2024_1887815_web_50639c9148.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Raman spectroscopy is a form of vibrational spectroscopy that probes chemical bonds and molecular structure and is sensitive to small changes in chemical and structural environments. The Raman spectrum of a material is a molecular “fingerprint” that can be used for identification of unknown materials and for characterizing and qualifying expected materials. Since intermolecular effects and lattice vibrations are also detected, it can be used to evaluate crystallinity. Mechanical phenomena such as strain can also be detected from peak shifts in Raman spectra. Raman imaging allows visualization of the distribution of components or changes in physical state across the sample.<h4>Silicon in aluminum&nbsp;</h4>Silicon is used in alloys with aluminum to increase the strength of lightweight aluminum-based parts. Addition of silicon to aluminum also alters the viscosity of melted aluminum, improving the castability. These alloys typically contain 3% to 25% silicon. While silicon and aluminum can form a eutectic mixture, it is common to have finely dispersed silicon particles throughout the material.¹ The size and distribution of silicon particles can affect the strength of the aluminum.&nbsp;One common example of an aluminum product, aluminum foil, is made up of almost pure aluminum (approximately 98.5%) but it does contain small amounts of silicon and iron.² Raman imaging of a piece of aluminum foil reveals small particles of silicon (Figure 1). A <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2237">Thermo Scientific™ DXR3xi Raman Imaging Microscope </a>was used with a 532 nm laser and a 100X&nbsp;metallurgical objective to collect the Raman imaging data. An area of 408 μm x 208 μm was imaged using an image pixel size of 1 μm. The Raman image, based on the 520 cm-1 peak of silicon, shows the spatial distribution of the particles and image analysis provides size and shape information. In this case, 81&nbsp;silicon particles were identified with a size (area) range of 6-151 μm². This analytical approach may be extrapolated to other types of Si/Al alloy parts.<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>The importance of silicon as a technologically significant material cannot be overstated. It has properties that make it useful in numerous different types of products. Raman micro-spectroscopy has proven itself an important tool for the assessment of molecular structure and physical states of silicon. Raman images provide a way to observe the spatial distribution of silicon and silicon-containing components, structural variations such as crystallinity, and physical effects such as strain. This note showed a few representative examples to illustrate some of the advantages offered by Raman microscopic analysis of silicon. The coverage is not intended to be comprehensive as there are numerous other areas where the Raman analysis of silicon is currently employed and other opportunities where it could be used. The Thermo Scientific DXR3 Raman Microscope and the Thermo Scientific DXR3xi Raman Imaging Microscope have both been shown to be excellent choices for the Raman analysis of silicon samples.<h3>4. Waters Corporation: High-Throughput Detection of Degraded Polysorbate in Biological Formulations with FMM</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/720009114_en_99c7483d1a.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>The FDA requires that all biologic formulations be free of visible particles and has defined allowable levels of subvisible particles (SVPs) larger than 10 µm to ensure the potency, efficiency, and safety of these drug.1 While most protein drug particle analysis focuses on particles formed due to formulation instability, SVPs formed through the degradation of formulation excipients must also be considered.&nbsp;Polysorbates 20 (PS20) and 80 (PS80), best known as Tween-20 and -80, are excipients used in &gt;70% of marketed parenteral biological drugs to improve product stability and shelf life.2 However, when these formulations are stored for long periods of time (&gt;6 months) at low temperatures (4 °C), visible and subvisible particles are formed due to the enzymatic hydrolysis of the polysorbates by host cell proteins (HCPs) such as esterases and lipases.3,4 PS20 in particular has been found to be extremely prone to degrading into fatty acid particles.5 Lauric, myristic and palmitic acids are the most common fatty acid degradation products, and there is a direct correlation between low fatty acid solubility and particle formation in common formulation buffers.3–7 However, high-throughput, sensitive, and specific analysis of polysorbate particles has been difficult due to their complex chemistry and their low concentrations (&lt;&lt;0.5%) in high protein concentration (&gt;100–200 mg/mL) formulation environments, making it a perennial needle in a haystack problem.In this application note, we introduce the Aura™ polysorbate degradation assay, a specific and quantitative assay that detects free fatty acid particles (FFAs) formed during polysorbate degradation on Aura PTx System. The assay analyzes 96 samples using anywhere from 5 µL–10 mL of sample in a few hours. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2190">Aura™ Systems</a> use backgrounded membrane imaging (BMI) and fluorescence membrane microscopy (FMM) to count, size and ID particles from 1 µm to 5 mm. Fluorescent labels utilized by FMM are selected based on thier ability to interact with particles of a certain nature, allowing for the generation of key information related to identity of the particles.<h4>Results and Discussion&nbsp;</h4><h5>Morphological Appearance of Different Fatty Acid Particles&nbsp;</h5>Aura systems image every particle, enables subvisible particle size distributions analysis, and makes morphological differentiation possible using built-in image analysis filters. When we analyze different free fatty acid solutions with Aura PTx System, we find that each forms particles with different morphological characteristics. Lauric acid particles are large and irregular clusters, myristic acid particles are small and oval shaped, and palmitic acid particles form fibril-like particles and small circular clusters (Figure 2a-c). These unique morphological characteristics suggest the presence of free fatty acid particles that can then be confirmed with FMM using labeled fluorescence.<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>Aura PTx System and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2190">Aura+ System</a> can easily detect the major degradation components of PS20 in proteincontaining samples at any stage of the drug manufacturing process. The method only requires 5 µL of sample, is specific and sensitive, and can analyze 96 samples in just a few hours, far outperforming other techniques. Aura PTx System and Aura+ System can also identify and differentiate the key degraded particulates from polysorbate formulation by their distinguishable shape, appearance, and specific labeling with BODIPY FL C16. The Aura polysorbate assay can detect FFAs at concentrations relative to lauric acid above 9.38 µM (&gt;2183 counts/mL) and quantitate above 18.75 µM (&gt;2976 counts/mL).

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 14, 2026

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 13th April 2026? 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 Metrohm, Shimadzu and Waters Corporation and other document byThermo Fisher Scientific!<h3>1. Metrohm: Dried pet food analysis by nearinfrared spectroscopy (NIRS)</h3>Rapid determination of moisture, protein, fat, and ash<ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_nir_129_download_9ff310dbb5.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Pet food testing involves accurate monitoring and control of moisture, protein, fat, and ash content. This allows pet food manufacturers to satisfy nutritional adequacy requirements, meet regulatory guidelines, and provide high-quality foods to pet owners. Traditional analysis methods are often slow and laborintensive. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy provides a fast, nondestructive alternative for analyzing these key quality control parameters with minimal sample preparation. This study evaluates the use of NIR spectroscopy in the pet food industry for efficient and reliable quality control during dried pet food production.<h4>EXPERIMENTAL EQUIPMENT&nbsp;</h4>199 dried pet food samples (mainly dog and cat food) from different suppliers were analyzed in whole and ground forms on an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=220&amp;search=OMNIS+NIR">OMNIS NIR Analyzer</a> Solid (Figure 1). The samples were added to an OMNIS sample cup and analyzed in diffuse reflection mode. To include sample variety, the sample rotated during measurement to collect spectra from different locations. The automatically averaged spectra were used for model development. Reference values were obtained by official methods such as ISO 6496 (moisture), ISO 5983 (protein), ISO 5984 (ash), and ISO 6492 (fat).<h4>CONCLUSION</h4>This Application Note demonstrates the feasibility of using NIR spectroscopy for the analysis of several pet food quality parameters, including protein, moisture, fat, and ash. Results indicate that lower prediction errors can be obtained when grinding pet food samples before their analysis. A comparison between different methods used for the analysis of pet food clearly highlights the significant time-saving potential of NIR spectroscopy (Table 1). Furthermore, the simplicity of the analysis and the availability of a pre-calibrated instrument, using the pre-calibration, dry pet food, solid (6.06008.027), make both the implementation and the application of NIR spectroscopy with OMNIS NIRS straightforward.<h3>2. Shimadzu: Determination of Elemental Impurities in Bioethanol Using ICP-MS</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_01021_en_942f8087b2.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h4>User Benefits</h4><ul><li>Bioethanol samples can be directly injected into ICP-MS for analysis.</li><li>Trace elements can be accurately determined with high sensitivity.</li></ul>To achieve carbon neutrality, bioethanol is expected to be one of the alternative energy sources to fossil fuels. First-generation bioethanol, produced mainly from corn, sugarcane, and similar crops, has been widely used. However, to avoid competition with food supplies, research and development are also advancing on second-generation bioethanol produced from non-food raw materials such as cellulosic materials. For example in Japan, seven companies including Toyota Motor Corporation have formed the raBit (Research Association of Biomass Innovation for Next Generation Automobile Fuels) to advance technologies for next-generation bioethanol. Shimadzu is also participating as a supporting member to promote R&amp;D through technical cooperation for analysis.&nbsp;Fuels in which bioethanol is blended into gasoline are referred to as E5 (up to 5% bioethanol), E10 (up to 10% bioethanol), etc.; using these fuels in vehicles can reduce environmental impact. At the same time, ethanol blended into gasoline and used as a fuel is required to meet trace element concentration limits (e.g., for copper) specified in standards such as ASTM D48061) and EN 153762). ICP-OES is commonly used for these analyses, but when ultra-trace impurity levels must be measured, higher-sensitivity ICP-MS is more suitable.&nbsp;In this Application, trace elements in first-generation and second-generation bioethanol were determined using the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=ICPMS-2050">ICPMS-2050</a> (Fig. 1). Spike recoveries were also evaluated to confirm the validity of the analytical results.<h4>Conclusion</h4>In this Application, bioethanol was introduced directly into the ICPMS-2050 using an organic solvent introduction system to determine trace elements. Good spike recoveries were obtained, demonstrating that bioethanol can be analyzed accurately by direct injection.<h3>3. Thermo Fisher Scientific: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2364">Thermo Scientific™ Nicolet™ FTIR</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2239">Thermo Scientific™ DXR Raman Microscope</a> Solutions</h3><ul><li>Other document</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/FL_52919_microspectroscopy_portfolio_flyer_516ee05816.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Microspectroscopy has become an essential tool in modern analytical laboratories, enabling detailed chemical identification and spatial analysis at the microscale. Whether working in pharmaceuticals, materials science, forensics, or electronics, selecting the right combination of FTIR or Raman microscopy is critical for achieving accurate and efficient results.Thermo Scientific offers a comprehensive portfolio of FTIR and Raman microscope solutions designed to match different analytical needs, user expertise levels, and throughput requirements. From routine QA/QC to advanced research applications, these systems provide scalable solutions for a wide range of analytical challenges .<h4>Matching the Right Tool to Your Application</h4>The portfolio is structured to help users “find their best fit” based on analytical complexity, required spatial resolution, and workflow demands. Entry-level configurations, such as the SurveyIR™ microspectroscopy accessory combined with Nicolet FTIR spectrometers, are ideal for routine identification tasks in QA/QC environments.As analytical needs increase, systems such as the Nicolet iN5 IR microscope with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2364">Nicolet iS20 FTIR</a> offer improved spatial resolution and flexibility for more frequent analyses. These solutions are particularly suitable for laboratories performing regular identification of materials with moderate complexity.For advanced analytical workflows, integrated systems like the Nicolet iN10 IR microscope or Nicolet RaptIR+™ FTIR microscope provide enhanced capabilities, including spatial distribution analysis and high-resolution measurements down to the micrometer scale. These systems are designed for analytical service labs and R&amp;D environments where both identification and morphological insights are required.<h4>Expanding Capabilities with Raman Microscopy</h4>Raman microscopy complements FTIR by enabling high-resolution chemical imaging and analysis of complex samples. Systems such as the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2239">DXR3 Raman microscope</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2237">DXR3xi Raman imaging microscope</a> extend analytical capabilities to submicron spatial resolution, making them ideal for advanced research applications.These instruments allow users to not only identify compounds but also visualize their spatial distribution and morphology within a sample. This is particularly valuable in fields such as nanomaterials, semiconductors, and life sciences, where detailed structural and compositional information is required.<h4>From Identification to Imaging</h4>One of the key differentiators across the portfolio is the ability to move from simple identification to comprehensive imaging:<ul><li>Single-point analysis is available across all systems for rapid material identification</li><li>Small-area analysis enables localized chemical characterization</li><li>Large-area and spatial mapping provide insights into distribution and heterogeneity</li></ul>Higher-end systems, such as imaging microscopes, combine these capabilities with advanced automation and data processing tools, allowing users to efficiently analyze complex samples and extract meaningful insights .<h3>4. Waters Corporation: Accurate Particles Characterization in Lipid Nanoparticle Therapies</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/720009097_en_15af008f22.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as one of the most promising drug delivery methods1. LNPs encapsulate genetic material in submicrometer sized lipid vesicles, deliver large biologic payloads, exhibit low immunogenicity, and can enable large manufacturing scalability as seen with the Moderna® and Pfizer® mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Like all biologics, LNPs can be physically unstable2, aggregate, and form subvisible particles (SVPs), and thus need to be properly formulated and evaluated for physical and chemical stability3. The next generation of LNPs are even more chemically and biologically complex than their predecessors1, presenting unique challenges in both their stability and manufacturability. Accurate low volume subvisible particle measurements will form a critical aspect of the quality assessment of LNPs.&nbsp;Like all injectables, LNPs are subject to USP 787/788 SVP testing4 . However, USP 788 compendial Method 1, light obscuration (LO), is deemed “unsuitable to measure liposomal and colloidal suspensions” as stated in the chapter. In fact, USP 788 recommends membrane microscopy (Compendial Method 2) for measuring liposomal formulations, given LO’s inability to handle solutions with a complex matrix4. Aura uses Backgrounded Membrane Imaging (BMI), a form of membrane microscopy that enables high throughput, low volume subvisible particle characterization. In this application note, we demonstrate how Aura™ GT System can accurately and thoroughly characterize the subvisible particle content of LNPs with volumes as little as 25 µL per sample. We focus on the analysis of two LNP samples formulated in different buffers and subjected temperature and freeze thaw stresses. In addition, we use Aura GT’s SYBR™ Gold assay5 to help characterize nucleic acid escape in stressed LNP samples and quantitatively analyze the stability and purity of these samples.<h4>Experimental</h4><h5>Particle Measurements&nbsp;</h5>LNP samples were measured using BMI and Fluorescence Membrane Microscopy (FMM) using <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=5&amp;search=aura+gt">Aura GT </a>on a black membrane plate. This procedure was adapted for each stress condition three wells were loaded with 25uL per well, and the filtrate stained with 1x SYBR Gold (2% v/v DMSO in PBS) for 1 min prior to FMM measurements. This procedure was adapted from Application note 16.5<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>Both samples A and B showed significant subvisible particle formation, more than 1x10^6/mL &gt;2 µm across most conditions except thermal stress, pointing to inherently unstable LNP formulations. Freeze thaw cycles significantly increased subvisible particle formation, while heat stress significantly reduced the subvisible particle concentration across both samples. Compared to protein formulations, this heat stress effect may appear unconventional. However, considering the LNP composition and upon further look at the literature, we are able to understand this phenomenon and conclude that significant heat stress can break a liposomal formulation apart3 , increasing the LNP solubility and thereby resulting in less insoluble particles captured on the membrane. On the other hand, freeze thawing produces more insoluble aggregates, thereby increasing subvisible counts as shown in BMI, exhibiting similar behavior to heat induced aggregation as in most protein formulations. A recurring theme in subvisible particle stability is that each formulation exhibits its own particle profile, LNPs are no exception. Another interesting data point is that freeze thawed LNPs showed significant SYBR Gold staining, whereas unstressed LNPs did not, indicating a unique nucleic acid leakage or rupture behavior for this type of stress. Finally, we also observed that buffer type did not significantly impact the subvisible particle count (data not shown). Whilst we observed significant particle counts across all samples tested, pH and buffer variance did not significantly increase particle formation. Indeed, several LNP formulations have reported robust stability profiles across a variety of buffers3 . Filtration of the final product may not be appropriate, as particle formation occurs following filtration, most likely in a concentration dependent manner (Figure 4). Multiple filtration steps, whilst able to clear the product, will undoubtedly result in reduced concentration of pharmacologically active LNPs and as a function of time particles will return as described in our “What Happens When I Filter My Sample” Application Note 21.&nbsp;In conclusion, Aura enables high throughput, low volume, accurate sub-visible particle analysis with direct applicability for LNP stability assessment. Arcane particle analysers, unsuitable for LNP assessment, will struggle to overcome the challenges associated with the physical and chemical complexity of LNPs. Indeed, Aura resolved these key challenges, providing a solution to sub-visible particle analysis of LNPs, from early stage inception through to product release.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 16, 2026

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 20th April 2026? 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 white paper by Metrohm and application notes by Shimadzu, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Waters Corporation!<h3>1. Metrohm: Why switch to OMNIS Client/Server (C/S)?</h3><ul><li>Other document</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/WP_097_EN_3a0ff88144.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>This White Paper outlines the key benefits of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=220&amp;search=OMNIS+software">OMNIS</a>, highlighting its scalability, cost-saving potential, and the positive impact it lends to overall business performance. The following sections cover more specific advantages of OMNIS, providing detailed insights into how this innovative solution can transform server management and drive significant cost reductions. Whether you are a small business looking to optimize your IT infrastructure or a large enterprise seeking to enhance operational efficiency, OMNIS offers a robust and scalable solution that can meet your needs.&nbsp;The cost savings for two different scenarios are calculated in this White Paper: medium- and large-scale organizations. For mid-sized environments involving 20 laboratory locations, the OMNIS Client/Server solution offers significant savings by reducing the number of servers tenfold—from 20 to just 2. For large-scale organizations with 60 laboratory locations worldwide, the solution enables substantial cost reductions by decreasing the number of servers from 60 to 6. These calculations demonstrate the scalability and costeffectiveness of the OMNIS Client/Server solution across various customer environments.<h4>COMPARISON OF TIAMO™ MULTI AND OMNIS CLIENT/SERVER&nbsp;</h4><h5>SCALABILITY&nbsp;</h5>tiamo™ multi Limitations&nbsp;A dedicated tiamo™ multi server is needed for each laboratory location.OMNIS C/S Advantages&nbsp;OMNIS C/S offers exceptional scalability, allowing businesses to easily expand their server infrastructure as needed. This means that as the business grows, OMNIS can seamlessly accommodate increased demand without compromising performance or efficiency. OMNIS is designed to scale up over many locations and countries without any negative impact on performance in a wide area network installation (WAN). By reducing the number of servers required to support operations, OMNIS C/S helps organizations achieve significant cost savings. This includes lower hardware costs, reduced energy consumption, and decreased maintenance expenses, resulting in substantial annual savings.<h5>ANALYSIS METHODS</h5>tiamo™ multi Limitations&nbsp;tiamo™ was designed as a pure titration measurement software solution.OMNIS C/S Advantages&nbsp;OMNIS is designed as a multiple measurement technology platform currently supporting titration, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, and process analytics. The platform will be continuously extended to support even more measurement technologies and devices in the future<h4>CONCLUSION&nbsp;</h4>The OMNIS Client/Server solution offers a transformative approach to managing server infrastructure for laboratory environments through centralization. By leveraging its unique scaling features, OMNIS enables significant cost savings and increased operational efficiency for both medium- and large-scale organizations.<h3>2. Shimadzu: Measurement of Fixed Carbon, Volatile Matter, and Ash of Biocoke</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_01136_en_c6a762bf92.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h4>User Benefits</h4><ul><li>The fixed carbon, volatile matter, and ash of biocoke can be measured by the DTG-60.</li><li>The combustion characteristics of biocoke can also be evaluated by using the DTG-60.</li><li>TG-DTA measurement can simultaneously grasp the endothermic and exothermic behaviors during pyrolysis and combustion, allowing a more comprehensive evaluation.</li></ul>Biocoke is a type of solid fuel produced using plant-derived organic resources (biomass) as the raw materials. Biocoke enables high-temperature combustion over an extended time period, and has also attracted attention as a zero-emission fuel which does not generate waste in the production process. It is produced by heating biomass under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. A stable fuel with high compressive strength can be obtained by this process, allowing easy transportation and storage, as well as long-term preservation. As a fuel for industrial furnaces and boilers, biocoke is used as a substitute for conventional fossil fuels. It is also expected to be used as a sustainable energy source because its CO2 emissions are lower than those of fossil fuels. The diversity of the raw materials that can be used to produce biocoke, which include woody materials and agricultural residues, is also another feature.&nbsp;In this article, the volatile matter, fixed carbon, and ash of biocokes produced from waste wood and buckwheat husks were evaluated using a Shimadzu DTG-60 simultaneous TG/DTA.<h4>Evaluation of Combustion Characteristics by TG-DTA Measurement</h4>TG-DTA measurements of the size-adjusted waste wood biocoke and buckwheat husk biocoke were conducted under an air atmosphere.<ul><li>Instrument: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=DTG-60">DTG-60&nbsp;</a></li><li>Heating rate: 10 ˚C/min&nbsp;</li><li>Temperature range: 30 ˚C - 700 ˚C&nbsp;</li><li>Sample weight: 8 mg&nbsp;</li><li>Atmosphere: Air</li></ul><h4>Conclusion</h4>The combustion characteristics and fixed carbon content of waste wood biocoke and buckwheat husk biocoke were evaluated using a DTG-60 simultaneous TG/DTA. TG-DTA measurement is an effective method which can determine the combustion characteristics of biocokes under an air atmosphere and the composition ratio of the volatile matter, fixed carbon, and ash under a nitrogen atmosphere. Moreover, TG-DTA enables a more comprehensive evaluation, as the endothermic and exothermic behaviors during pyrolysis and combustion can be measured simultaneously. Since the properties of various types of biocokes differ depending on the raw material used and the production conditions, TG-DTA measurement is also useful for comparative studies of biocoke quality. In addition, when a mixture of various types of biomass is to be used, it is important to know the carbon content (fixed carbon content) of each raw material.<h3>3. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Classification of polyethylene by Raman spectroscopy</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/AN_52301_classification_polyethylene_Raman_spectroscopy_app_note_05122821c5.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Polyethylene (PE) is one of the most common plastics in the world with annual global production of around 80 million tons.1 Based on density, polyethylene is generally classified as high-density polyethylene (HDPE, &gt; 0.940 g/cm3 ) or low-density polyethylene (LDPE, &lt; 0.930 g/cm3 ).2 These different density polyethylene’s have vastly different physical, chemical, and mechanical properties, and hence are used in different applications. For example, HDPE is primarily used for milk jugs, detergent bottles, garbage containers, and water pipes, due to its high tensile strength; LDPE, on the other hand, has a lower tensile strength and is used mainly for plastic bags and wraps. Therefore, density is one the most important properties of polyethylene, and classifying them according to their density is essential for proper PE specification.&nbsp;Bulk PEs are manufactured as pellets (resins, granules), and later converted to other forms (such as films and pipes) using extrusion or molding processes. They are also made into multilayer films for a wide range of industrial applications like food and consumer product packaging. The density of bulk PE pellets and single-layer PE films can be measured and classified with relative ease using several standard techniques: ISO 1183-1/ASTM D792 (immersion method),3 ISO 1183-2/ASTM D1505 (density gradient method),4 and ASTM D4883 (ultrasound method).5 However, all these techniques require the PE in its “pure” form, which can be challenging in the case of PE in multilayer films. Extensive sample preparations (microtoming, separation of layers by dissolving in solvents) are often required6 to isolate the PE layer before analysis, which can be labor-intensive and time-consuming.&nbsp;Raman spectroscopy is sensitive to changes in the molecular structure level of PE, such as the degree of crystallinity, which is the key determining factor of PE density.7,8 More importantly, the confocal capability of Raman microscopy allows for facile in situ analysis of individual PE layers in multilayer films without the need to isolate the PE layer. To our best knowledge, PE density measurement using Raman has been limited to PE pellets.7,8 In this work, we want to systematically explore the feasibility of using confocal Raman microscopy for PE film density analysis, both qualitatively and quantitatively. We demonstrate that Raman microscopy in combination with the discriminant analysis method can be successfully applied to distinguish HDPE and LDPE in both pellet and film forms.<h4>Experimental</h4><h5>Method description</h5>A <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=3&amp;search=DXR2+Raman+microscope">Thermo Scientific™ DXR2 Raman Microscope</a> was used for the collection of Raman data. For each type/class of the pellet samples, Raman spectra were collected from 3 different pellets and averaged. For each film sample, Raman spectra were collected from 3-4 locations across the surface of the sample. An averaged spectrum was then used for final analysis.A 532 nm laser was used with a 2 mW laser power at the sample. A 10x objective and a 50 μm slit aperture were used to obtain more representative spectra from the samples. Total acquisition time for each spectrum was 30 seconds (3 second exposure x 10 exposures). Thermo Scientific™ OMNIC™ software was used for operation of the DXR2 Raman Microscope, and collection of Raman spectra; Thermo Scientific™ TQ Analyst™ software was used for chemometric analysis of the Raman data.<h4>Conclusion</h4>In this application note, we have successfully demonstrated the use of a Thermo Scientific DXR2 Raman Microscope, in combination with the TQ Analyst software, to classify polyethylene’s of different density classes in both pellet and film forms. Raman spectroscopy is nondestructive and requires minimal sample preparation. The classification method was created solely based on the Raman spectral features of LDPE and HDPE and was indifferent to the sample forms. Once the method is established, PE samples, pellets or films, can be correctly classified within minutes. Moreover, this work expands the scope of the previously reported study on PE pellets to include PE films, which broadens its applicability in the plastic/ polymer industry as well as many downstream industries. The described methodology should be applicable for in situ classification of thin PE layer(s) in multilayer films. The data were collected using an older model instrument DXR2 Raman microscope. Currently, Thermo Fisher Scientific offers an improved model, the DXR3 Raman Microscope, which offers superior speed and performance over its predecessor model.<h3>4. Waters Corporation: Rapidly Distinguish Protein from Non-Protein Particles in Biologic Formulations</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/720009101_en_b4370d547c.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Current subvisible analysis techniques make accurate particle identification virtually impossible. Light obscuration (LO) is a low refractive index contrast particle counting method which cannot distinguish between different particle types. Flow imaging (FI) techniques provide more information than LO, including particle images, morphological parameters and optical characteristics of particles. However, none of these features definitively identify the type of particle imaged. Flow imagers for example cannot distinguish between plastic, protein, and degraded polysorbate which are all very similar in morphology. Technologies available for detailed chemical composition ID such as Raman microscopy/spectroscopy have been used to fill in the gaps left by particle counters; however, they are tedious, require lots of expertise and extensive signal processing, and have the throughput of a single particle per several minutes of use, making the technique useful only to expert users during failure mode analysis.&nbsp;In order to fully characterize particulates and aggregates in biopharmaceutical product formulations, further information about the identity of all the particulates is crucial. Regulatory agencies expect drug manufacturers to move away from simple counting techniques and apply multiple and orthogonal methods to complement compendial methods.&nbsp;In this application note we introduce fluorescence membrane microscopy (FMM). FMM, exclusively available in the Aura™ System, is a high throughput, low volume, subvisible particle identification technology. FMM enables ultra-fast, 100% sampling efficiency, characterizing all particles from a single protein aggregate to tens of millions of particles in an entire multi-sample formulation, in under two hours.<h4>Experimental</h4>Fluorescence membrane microscopy (FMM) is a novel particle identification method that builds on backgrounded membrane imaging (BMI) to identify, categorize, and further scrutinize the most common particles in an entire bioformulation sample by using established extrinsic fluorescent dye chemistries.&nbsp;BMI, the backbone analysis technology used in the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2190">Aura</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=5&amp;search=horizon">Horizon®</a> instruments, images a 96-well membrane plate before and after sample filtration, and conducts novel, high optical contrast image analysis to resolve particles from 1 µm to 5 mm in size, with a large &gt;36/mL counts dynamic range. Using fluorescent dyes, biopharmaceutical particles are stained and analyzed with FMM to confirm and quantify their presence. To enable FMM, Aura uses new membrane plates specifically manufactured to support labeled fluorescent workflows.<h4>Conclusion</h4>FMM using ThT allows one to conduct high throughput, low volume and specific protein/non-protein particle analysis. The power of FMM using ThT is the ability to obtain protein/non-protein ID for a whole 96-well plate assay down to a single individual particle in less than 90 minutes. ThT’s high solubility and specificity to protein aggregates makes it possible to differentiate protein aggregates from particles with similar morphology and refractive index like plastics and fatty acids. Compared to spectroscopic techniques, the throughput of FMM is 1000x higher, while using best in class particle sizing and counting analysis that has its roots in the wellestablished membrane microscopy found in USP 788.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 17, 2026

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