Agilent ICP-MS Journal (October 2013 – Issue 55)

Importance of the topic

The October 2013 issue of Agilent’s ICP-MS Journal presents advances in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) that address demanding analyses across diverse fields: geological and mining exploration, food and pharmaceutical safety, consumer-product regulation, and forensic and clinical testing. High-throughput, robust sample introduction, interference control, and speciation capabilities are critical to meet strict detection limits, broad dynamic ranges, and regulatory requirements while minimizing cost and turnaround times.

Aim and overview of the studies and articles

This issue highlights several applications and developments: analysis of trace and major metals in complex rock and mineral digests using a single ICP-MS workflow; speciation of hexavalent and trivalent chromium in toy materials to comply with EU safety standards; calibration of blood metals in a synthetic matrix to improve accuracy; partnerships to extend atomic spectroscopy capabilities; and enhancements to lab instrumentation programs and trade-in credit schemes.

Methodology and instrumentation

• Discrete sampling with the Integrated Sample Introduction System (ISIS-DS) to overlap uptake, rinse, and data acquisition for rock digests and biological fluids.
• Aerosol dilution via the High Matrix Introduction (HMI) system to accommodate high total dissolved solids and strong acid matrices.
• Helium collision-cell mode in the Agilent 7700x and 8800 ICP-(Q)QQQ to remove polyatomic interferences and extend upper dynamic range for elements such as Ca, Fe and Se.
• LC-ICP-MS coupling for chromatographic separation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) using EDTA chelation and anion-exchange columns, with robust interference removal in helium mode.
• Use of internal standards and synthetic matrices (matrix-matching with NaCl and CaCl₂) to eliminate bias in blood metal determinations without resorting to isotope dilution.

Main results and discussion

• Rock and mineral CRMs were digested and analyzed in under 90 s per sample, achieving detection limits at the low ppb to sub-ppb level, recoveries within certified ranges, and excellent long-term stability (365 analyses in <9 h).
• Chromium speciation in toy extracts achieved detection limits of ~1 μg/kg in the original material, full separation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) peaks, quantitative spike recoveries of 96–111 %, and good precision over multiple injections.
• Calibration in a synthetic blood matrix delivered near-perfect correlation with reference values for lead proficiency samples regardless of internal standard choice, with method detection limits of 0.2–0.7 μg/L in solution.
• The Agilent 8800 Triple Quadrupole ICP-MS reached 100 shipments in under 18 months, won multiple industry awards, and demonstrated widespread adoption in semiconductor, environmental, pharmaceutical, and materials laboratories.

Benefits and practical applications

• Single-instrument workflows replace separate ICP-OES and ICP-MS methods for geological and mining labs, reducing per-sample cost and improving sample throughput.
• Enhanced interference removal and extended dynamic range simplify method development, eliminating the need for multiple cell modes or mathematical corrections.
• Regulatory compliance for toy safety, food and drink contaminants, and pharmaceutical elemental impurities is achieved with validated, high-sensitivity methods.
• Trade-in credit programs for platinum cones and shields lower operating costs and support sustainable laboratory practices.

Future trends and potential applications

• Expansion of triple quadrupole technology for challenging matrices, including single-particle analysis, isotope ratio work, and ultratrace speciation.
• Broader implementation of synthetic matrices and universal internal-standard approaches to streamline blood and urine metal assays without isotope enrichment.
• Development of joint centers of excellence and partnerships to accelerate method innovation and address emerging regulatory requirements worldwide.
• Ongoing automation and integration of sample introduction systems to further increase throughput and instrument uptime.

Conclusion

Agilent’s suite of ICP-MS solutions—ranging from discrete and high-matrix introduction to collision/cell and triple quadrupole technologies—provides robust, sensitive, and cost-effective workflows for a wide spectrum of analytical challenges. Validated methods for geological, clinical, toy-safety, and environmental applications demonstrate the versatility and performance necessary to meet stringent regulatory and productivity demands.

References

• Agilent White Paper 5991-2811EN: Helium collision mode and aerosol dilution for ultra-trace analysis of metals in mineral reference materials.
• Agilent Application Note 5991-2991EN: Determination of essential and toxic metals in blood by ICP-MS with calibration in synthetic matrix.
• Agilent Application Note 5991-2878EN: LC-ICP-MS method for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in toy materials to meet EN71-3:2012.
• Agilent Application Note 5991-2929EN: Single particle analysis using the 7700x ICP-MS.