Trace elemental analysis of distilled alcoholic beverages using the Agilent 7700x ICP-MS with octopole collision/ reaction cell

Importance of the Topic

Elemental profiling of distilled alcoholic beverages is critical for quality control, regulatory compliance and flavour consistency. Trace metals can originate from raw materials and processing equipment and may affect product safety and taste.

Objectives and Study Overview

• Develop a single analytical method for diverse spirits using Agilent 7700x ICP-MS with ORS3
• Evaluate interference removal using helium collision mode compared to no-gas mode
• Assess method performance through calibration and spike recovery tests

Methodology and Instrumentation

• Sample preparation: fivefold dilution with 1% HNO3 and 0.5% HCl; ethanol added to match matrix
• Instrumentation: Agilent 7700x ICP-MS, Octopole Reaction System (ORS3), helium collision mode and no-gas comparison
• Internal standards: Ge, Rh and Ir added online
• Key operating parameters: 1550 W power, 0.8 L/min carrier gas, 5.0 mL/min He cell gas, 2 °C spray chamber

Main Results and Discussion

• Helium mode reduced polyatomic interferences by up to four orders of magnitude (e.g. Cr BEC from 162.8 to 0.0117 µg/L)
• DLs and BECs improved for Mg, Al, Ca, V, Mn, Fe, As, Se and others
• Calibration curves were linear (R≥0.9966) across low and high mass elements
• Spike recoveries ranged 89–120% for most elements, confirming accuracy
• Routine analysis of bourbon, rum, liqueur, sake, vodka, Irish and Scottish whiskies demonstrated robustness

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Single-method workflow across multiple spirit matrices
• High sensitivity and interference-free results without complex tuning
• Suitable for QC laboratories, regulatory testing and flavour optimization

Future Trends and Opportunities

• Application to other alcoholic beverages such as wine and fermented products
• Automation of sample preparation for high-throughput testing
• Exploration of reaction gases for targeted interference removal
• Development of certified reference materials for spirit matrices

Conclusion

The Agilent 7700x ICP-MS with ORS3 in helium collision mode provides a reliable, sensitive and universal method for multielement trace analysis in distilled spirits using simple sample dilution and a single set of operating conditions.

References

• G. Woods - Trace elemental analysis of distilled alcoholic beverages using the Agilent 7700x ICP-MS with octopole collision reaction cell, Agilent Technologies, Application Note, 2012