Build a Better ICP-MS Workflow

Importance of the topic

The ability to perform rapid, accurate and interference-free multi-element analysis is critical across environmental monitoring, food safety, pharmaceuticals and materials research. Integrating automated sample preparation, advanced sample introduction and streamlined ICP-MS instrumentation reduces operator workload, minimizes errors and accelerates data generation in high-throughput laboratories.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application note presents a fully integrated workflow combining microwave digestion, automated sample introduction with inline calibration and autodilution, and both single and triple quadrupole ICP-MS analysis. The goal is to illustrate time savings, improved data quality and simplified method development through automated processes and intelligent software tools.

Methodology

The workflow is divided into three stages:

• Sample Preparation: Fast microwave digestion to reduce preparation time and resource use.
• Sample Introduction Automation: Optimized uptake/rinse paths, prescriptive autodilution and inline calibration to eliminate manual dilutions.
• ICP-MS Analysis: Use of single-quadrupole (iCAP RQ) and triple-quadrupole (iCAP TQ) instruments with advanced interference removal and an integrated software platform for method setup, tuning and reporting.

Used Instrumentation

• CEM microwave digestion systems for rapid, high-throughput digestion of environmental and industrial samples.
• Elemental Scientific ESI autosampler featuring push-fit connections, autodilution and autocalibration capabilities.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific iCAP RQ single-quad and iCAP TQ triple-quad ICP-MS instruments equipped with innovative QCell collision cell and reactive gas options for interference removal.
• Qtegra ISDS software with Configurator, Instrument Control, Reaction Finder, Performance Reports and customizable reporting templates.

Main Results and Discussion

Comparative studies show that automated autodilution reduces operator intervention from 1.7 h to 0.3 h per 300 samples, freeing over 3 h of productive time daily. Inline calibration and intelligent autodilution ensure accurate standard curves and internal standard recoveries without manual solution preparation. Triple quadrupole technology with Reaction Finder simplifies complex gas mode selection, enabling routine removal of polyatomic, isobaric and doubly-charged interferences with minimal user input.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Significant time savings and increased throughput in busy QA/QC and research labs.
• Reduced contamination risk and human error via fully integrated workflows.
• Enhanced data quality through advanced collision/reaction cell strategies and real-time performance monitoring.
• Flexible application to elemental quantification, speciation and LA-ICP-MS plug-in workflows.

Future Trends and Opportunities

The next generation of ICP-MS workflows will leverage artificial intelligence for automated method optimization, expanded reaction chemistries for challenging matrices, miniaturized instrumentation for field deployment, and integrated speciation analysis. Real-time monitoring and cloud-based data analytics will further improve decision-making and regulatory compliance.

Conclusion

A fully automated ICP-MS workflow combining microwave digestion, ESI sample introduction, advanced iCAP RQ/TQ instruments and Qtegra ISDS software delivers substantial gains in efficiency, data integrity and ease of use. This approach empowers laboratories to meet increasing sample loads and stringent quality requirements with minimal manual intervention.

References

• Mourgas M., MacRenaris K., Antonio S. Build a Better ICP-MS Workflow. TEA Application Note.