ICP Elemental Analysis Laboratory

Rabeya Akter

Dorothy Yu

Khorshed Chinu

Manager – Dr Chris Marjo

Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre

• BMIF - Biomedical Imaging Facility• BMSF - Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Facility• BRIL - Biological Resources Imaging Laboratory• CCL - Commercial & Consulting• EMU - Electron Microscope Unit• NMR - Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility• SPECLAB - Spectroscopy Laboratory• SSEAU - Solid State & Elemental Analysis Unit• Stats Central• TAU - Transgenic Animal Unit• UNSW Biorepository

Capabilities

Elemental analysis - identification and quantification of elements in samples

Determination of the elemental composition and trace level elements

Combine appropriate instrumentation with sample preparation and methodology that are most relevant to both the sample matrix and the aim of the project

Analytical service to a variety of applications – environmental, geological, pharmaceutical, materials, medical, food and others….

Capabilities

Sample preparation

Quantitative analysis of inorganic cations

Quantitative analysis of inorganic anions

Quantitative analysis of carbon and nitrogen

Characterisation of organic matter

Method development and validation

Instruments

ICP- Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy

Ion Chromatography System

Carbon and Nitrogen Analyser

Flow Injection Analyser

LCOCD - Liquid Chromatography – Organic Carbon Detection

ICPOES - ICPMS

ICP-OES Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy

Determination of trace and major elements

Detect most elements in the periodic table

Detection limits in the parts per million range

ICP-MS Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy

Highly sensitive with detection limits in the parts per trillion level

ICP-OES/AESICP-AES Detection Limit

ICP-OES ionises an atom in a 8000°C plasma then measures the light from the atomic excitationElements (like the halogens) do not ionize efficiently have poor detection limits

ICP-MS

ICP-MS Detection Limit

ICP-MS ionises an atom in a 10,000°C plasma then measures the ions in a mass spectrometerLike ICP-OES, elements (like the halogens) that do not ionize efficiently have poor detection limits

LA-ICP-MS Laser Ablation ICP-MS

Highly sensitive elemental and isotopic analysis to be performed directly on solid samples

A laser beam focused on the sample surface to generate fine particles (Laser Ablation)

The ablated particles are then transported to the ICP-MS instrument for both elemental and isotopic analysis

Sample mass size required for LA-ICP-MS analysis is sub-microscale Limit of detection approaching ppm level Applications

– Semi-quantitative bulk analysis– Local inclusion and defect analysis– Imaging– Line speciation

ICP Instrument

Perkin Elmer OPTIMA 7300 ICPOES

PerkinElmer NexIon 300D ICPMS

NexIon 300D ICPMS integrated with ESI-NewWave NWR213 Laser Ablation accessory

ICP

Rapid multi-element coverage Semi-quantitative isotopic information Low detection limits in ppm to ppt levels Wide Linear Dynamic Range from ppm to low percentage High sample throughput Semi-quantitative, as well as quantitative analysis The only elements which cannot be measured by ICP methods are C, H, O,

N and the some halogens.

Carbon & Nitrogen Analysis

AnalytikJena Multi N/C 2100S Total Carbon and Total Nitrogen Analyser

Determine total and dissolved carbon and nitrogen content of aqueous samples by thermocatalytic high-temperature oxidation.

TC, IC, OC, TN

OI Analytical Aurora 1030 Wet Oxidation TOC Analyser

Determine total and dissolved carbon content of aqueous samples by chemical oxidation.

TC, IC, OC

LC-OCD-ONDLiquid Chromatography – Organic Carbon Detection – Organic Nitrogen Detection

Chromatographic separation of natural organic matter (NOM) and water-soluble synthetic organic matter into different fractions

Quantification of these fractions

The system uses size-exclusion chromatography to separate classes of dissolved organic matter based on their molecular weights. The separated species are detected by UV detector and Infrared detector

NOM is separated into 6 sub-fractions which gives information on– effectiveness of water treatment system

– microbial activity

– flocculation

– reactivity of HS in treatment processes …..

LC-OCD: separation of large organic molecules (usually from an aqueous extraction) by size

LC-OCD-OND

FIAFlow Injection Analysis

Platform of spectrophotometric determination

High sample throughput

Quantitative determination of soluble and available NO3, NO2 and NH4 in water and soil extracts

Lachat’s QuikChem 8500

Ion Chromatography

Dionex Ion Chromatography System

IonPac AS14A Analytical Column

Separation and quantification of inorganic anions to ppm levels– Fluoride

– Chloride

– Nitrite

– Bromide

– Nitrate

– Phosphate

– Sulphate

Sample Preparation

Representative

Homogenous

Free of contaminants

Storage stability

Correct sample preparation is essential to achieving reliable quantitation data

Sample Preparation Facilities

• High speed Ball Mill• Precision balance – 5 decimal places• Labwater Purification System • Sub-boiling Acid Distillation Unit• Digestion Hot Block• Microwave-enhanced Digestion System• Ultrasonic Bath• Shaker – horizontal & end over end• Centrifuge• Press pellet

How we can assist you with your research

projects?

Achieve your goals on time and within budget

Select a method

Modify a method

Develop a method

Validate a method

Perform the analyses

Contacts