Agilent ICP-MS Journal (August 2022, Issue 89)

Significance of the topic

ICP-MS/MS technology offers unparalleled precision for trace elemental and isotopic analyses, impacting geochronology, proteomics, pharmaceutical quality control, and environmental monitoring.

Overview of the publication

The August 2022 issue of the Agilent ICP-MS Journal highlights novel ICP-MS/MS applications in life and earth sciences, updates on elemental impurity guidelines for pharmaceuticals, new regulatory methods for cannabis and fertilizers, and community celebrations of 10 years of triple quadrupole ICP-MS.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• Agilent 8800/8900 triple quadrupole ICP-MS with reactive collision/reaction cell gases: SF₆ for Sr isotope separation and O₂ for sulfur detection.
• Laser ablation ICP-MS/MS for in situ Rb-Sr geochronology, enabling SF₆-driven chemical resolution of ⁸⁷Rb and ⁸⁷Sr at micron scale.
• Capillary LC-ICP-MS/MS with CO₂ addition in the plasma for consistent sulfur ionization in protein mass purity assays.
• Microwave digestion protocols for robust multi-element analysis in cannabis and fertilizer matrices.

Key Results and Discussion

• In situ Rb-Sr dating by LA-ICP-MS/MS produced isochron ages in agreement with TIMS and MC-ICP-MS, validating SF₆ cell gas strategy for isobar separation.
• Sulfur-based capLC-ICP-MS/MS achieved accurate mass purity certification of BSA, transferrin, β-casein, and cytochrome C (92–99% purity) without species-specific standards.
• ICH Q3D(R2) and USP <232> revisions raised permitted daily exposures for 24 elemental impurities across oral, parenteral, inhalational, and cutaneous routes, remaining compatible with existing multi-element ICP-MS methods.
• ASTM D37 approved an ICP-MS method for toxic metals (As, Cd, Hg, Pb) in cannabis; EU Fertilizing Products Regulation 2019/1009, effective July 2022, mandates contaminant limits and speciation of Cr(VI) and inorganic As in fertilizers.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Eliminates lengthy chemical separations for geochronology and speciation, enabling rapid, in situ analysis.
• Delivers traceable, species-independent protein quantification to certify standard materials.
• Supports pharmaceutical and agricultural compliance with harmonized global guidelines.
• Extends analytical capability to challenging elements (Si, S) and regulated species across diverse sample types.

Future trends and potential applications

Widened adoption of ICP-MS/MS in environmental, biomedical, and nanomaterial studies; establishment of standardized methods for emerging regulated products; deeper integration with chromatographic separations for advanced speciation; and accelerated method harmonization across industries.

Conclusion

Agilent triple quadrupole ICP-MS has catalyzed advances in precision elemental and isotopic analysis across disciplines. Recent applications demonstrate its accuracy and versatility, while updated regulations and approved methods will foster broader adoption and standardized workflows.

References

• Villa I.M., et al. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 2015, 164, 382–385.
• Yang Y.-H., et al. Chem. Geol. 2014, 385, 35–55.
• Walawender M., et al. GSA Memoir 1990, 174, 1–18.
• Fernandez S.D., et al. Anal. Chem. 2012, 84, 5851–5857.
• Nosti A.J., et al. Agilent publication 5994-5073EN.