Environmental Analysis

Denise M. Mitrano of ETH Zurich, the 2022 winner of the Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award, is applying ICP-MS and single-particle ICP-MS to elucidate the transport and impact of nanomaterials and nano- and microplastics.

Spectral reflectance is a non-destructive method that is applicable to remote sensing and may be used to measure the chlorophyll content in a crop, which indicates the photosynthetic capacity, growth cycles, and degrees of stress (such as disease, insect infestation, and heavy metal stress) on plant ecosystems. This vis-NIR spectral reflectance method measures leaf chlorophyll using a wavelet analysis algorithm approach.

In the agrifood sector, soil sampling and analysis is a prerequisite for accurate fertilizer management and to monitor the accumulation of heavy metals in soils. In this study, energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) was used to analyze soils with variable textures (clay and sandy) and the percent recovery of elements was compared, as a measure of accuracy.

In this study, the nitrophenol isomers, in solid and liquid phases, were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy, laying the groundwork for determining nitrophenol isomers in environmental monitoring with this technique.

An inexpensive fiberoptic-based formaldehyde field sensor is described for monitoring low-levels of formaldehyde, a widespread indoor air pollutant, based on the principle of evanescent wave absorption of light. Sensor prototypes following that principle are being tested in two plywood board production plants.

Multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) has some specific advantages over traditional ICP-MS instruments.