Reduce your metals analysis cost with the Thermo Scientific iCAP PRO Series ICP-OES

Importance of the Topic

Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) is a cornerstone technique for trace and major element analysis across environmental, industrial, and materials laboratories. The high cost of argon gas, frequent replacement of consumables like torches, and lengthy warm-up and analysis times can drive up operational expenses. Optimizing instrument design and workflow is therefore vital to maintain cost-effective, high-throughput elemental analysis.

Objectives and Overview of the Study

This technical note evaluates the Thermo Scientific iCAP PRO Series ICP-OES, focusing on its strategies to minimize consumable usage and argon consumption, accelerate startup and sample throughput, and thereby reduce total cost of ownership over the instrument’s lifetime.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The study examines key design features and operating modes of the iCAP PRO Series:

• Low plasma gas flow rates (12 L·min⁻¹ versus the typical 15–16 L·min⁻¹) while maintaining stability and matrix tolerance.
• Optimized purge gas distribution (1.4 L·min⁻¹ in low-gas mode or 3.4 L·min⁻¹ standard) using argon or lower-cost nitrogen to protect the optical path.
• Exchangeable quartz semi-demountable torch components and optional long-life ceramic D-Torch to reduce replacement frequency.
• Rapid five-minute warm-up capability in PRO XP and PRO XPS radial models to curtail idle argon consumption.
• Intelligent Full Range (iFR) spectral acquisition for simultaneous multi-element measurement in one or two replicates per view.
• Integration with high-speed sample introduction systems (Teledyne CETAC ASXPRESS PLUS, ESI SC-FAST) to shorten per-sample analysis time to as low as 45 seconds.

Key Results and Discussion

The combined design and workflow enhancements deliver substantial gas savings and throughput gains:

• Purge gas consumption is reduced by up to 475,200 L per year compared to conventional purge flows of 3.5–8 L·min⁻¹.
• Fast startup reduces warm-up argon usage from 20–45 minutes to just five minutes.
• Enhanced autosampler performance cuts sample analysis time by up to 75%, translating 100 samples from over 200 minutes to approximately 150 minutes.
• In a 10-year service life, a moderate-throughput lab can save more than $24,500 in argon costs alone (assuming $0.00245 per liter).

Benefits and Practical Applications

These improvements yield practical advantages for analytical facilities:

• Lower operational costs through reduced gas consumption and extended consumable lifetimes.
• Higher sample throughput and reduced non-productive time bolster productivity and profitability.
• Flexible torch configuration allows targeted maintenance and reduces waste.
• Compatibility with common automation accessories facilitates seamless integration into existing workflows.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Further developments may include:

• Integration of alternative, lower-cost purge gases and even more efficient gas management systems.
• Advanced software algorithms for real-time optimization of gas flows based on sample matrix.
• Increased automation and remote monitoring to minimize human intervention and downtime.
• Enhanced multi-view optics and detector technologies for faster, more sensitive multi-element analyses.

Conclusion

The Thermo Scientific iCAP PRO Series ICP-OES demonstrates that thoughtful instrument design and workflow automation can dramatically reduce the lifetime cost of elemental analysis. By leveraging low gas flows, rapid startup, durable consumables, and high-speed sample introduction, laboratories can achieve significant savings in argon usage, operational expenses, and analysis time without compromising performance.

Reference

Technical Note TN000041: Thermo Scientific iCAP PRO Series ICP-OES Performance and Cost Analysis