Agilent ICP-MS Journal (May 2011 – Issue 46)

Importance of Topic

ICP-MS remains a cornerstone technique for trace element determination in environmental, industrial, and clinical laboratories. Recent innovations in sample introduction, interference removal, and calibration methods have enabled high-throughput, accurate analyses even in challenging high-matrix samples.

Objectives and Study Overview

The articles in this issue present:

• Development of a high-throughput ICP-MS method for flue gas desulfurization (FGD) wastewater.
• Application of compound independent calibration (CIC) for arsenic species determination by LC-ICP-MS.
• Design evolution of a PFA micro-concentric nebulizer for enhanced robustness and sensitivity.
• Insights from an Agilent-hosted GC-ICP-MS expert meeting and highlights from the Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry.

Instrumentation Used

• Agilent 7700x ICP-MS with High Matrix Introduction (HMI) and ISIS-DS sampler
• Agilent 1260 HPLC system with arsenic speciation column
• Savillex C-Flow PFA micro-concentric nebulizers (50 µL/min and 200 µL/min)
• Agilent GC-ICP-MS interfaces and software

Main Results and Discussion

• FGD Wastewater Analysis: The validated SOP using HMI and helium collision cell achieved accurate quantification of trace metals in highly contaminated FGD matrices over an 89-sample run, meeting all USEPA QC criteria and retaining ±15% recovery.
• Arsenic Speciation by CIC: Comparison of compound specific calibration (CSC) and CIC for As species in undiluted urine over a 13-hour sequence showed excellent agreement (CIC/CSC ratios 0.89–1.16), demonstrating CIC’s practicality and cost advantages.
• PFA Nebulizer Design: The new C-Flow nebulizer’s centered capillary inside the tip produces smaller droplets (~9 µm) with narrow distribution, delivering high sensitivity, reproducible aspiration (±15%), and reduced blockages.
• User Engagement: The GC-ICP-MS expert meeting fostered exchange on interface hardware, software, and novel applications. Analysis of 329 posters at the WPC revealed Agilent quad-ICP-MS systems were used in 79 presentations, the highest among vendors.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Robust, high-throughput workflows for complex environmental samples reduce downtime and increase productivity.
• CIC facilitates speciation analyses when standards are scarce or costly, without sacrificing accuracy.
• Enhanced nebulizer designs support demanding matrices and low-flow applications in semiconductor, clinical, and geochemical studies.
• Active forums and conferences accelerate best practice sharing and method optimization.

Future Trends and Applications

• Advanced collision/reaction cell chemistries for improved matrix tolerance in emerging sample types.
• Automation and AI-driven data evaluation to streamline QC monitoring and drift correction in long analytical sequences.
• Development of ultralow-flow, inert sample introduction for aggressive chemistries (HF, strong acids).
• Expansion of high-throughput speciation for clinical and environmental field analyses.
• Enhanced community collaborations to address complex multi-element challenges.

Conclusion

This issue demonstrates how integrated advances in ICP-MS hardware, methodology, and user collaboration deliver reliable, high-throughput trace element and speciation analyses across diverse applications, while setting the stage for future improvements in sensitivity, robustness, and lab efficiency.

References

• Agilent application note 5990-8114EN: Analysis of Flue Gas Desulfurization Wastewaters by ICP-MS
• Agilent application note 5989-5505EN: Routine Analysis of Toxic Arsenic Species in Urine Using HPLC-ICP-MS
• T. Sakai, S. Wilbur, Spectrochimica Acta Part B 61 (2006) 239–283
• J.L. Todolí, J.M. Mermet, Liquid Sample Introduction in ICP Spectrometry: A Practical Guide, Elsevier