ICP-MS

Spectroscopy is playing a key role in analyzing materials in lithium-ion batteries.

This article presents a strategic six-stage product development roadmap for atomic spectroscopy instruments, integrating Strategic Goal Setting with RISE prioritization, Kano analysis, and Three Horizons innovation. Emphasis is placed on beta validation to ensure inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry( ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) systems achieve technical excellence, regulatory compliance, market success, and long-term leadership in trace elemental analysis.

This first installment of Research Profiles in Spectroscopy Series features The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Petrochronology Research Group and its advances in laser ablation ICP-MS, isotope geochemistry, and petrochronology. Led by John Cottle, Andrew Kylander-Clark, and Morgan Adamson, the group has developed innovative spectroscopic methods that combine high-resolution isotopic dating with trace-element analysis to better understand petrochronology processes, including mountain building, crustal evolution, and complex geological processes.

This overview article discusses how spectroscopic techniques are being used to improve cannabis analysis.

The 2024-2026 period has been marked by rapid methodological innovation and critical reassessment of established atomic spectrometric techniques in environmental analysis. Advances in inductively coupled plasma–tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) reaction-cell chemistry, matrix-effect correction in X-ray fluorescence (XRF), microwave-sustained plasma sources, and green preconcentration strategies have expanded analytical capabilities for soils, waters, sediments, plants, and atmospheric particulates. Simultaneously, comparative evaluations of inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and XRF have sharpened our understanding of detection limits, bias, and field applicability. This brief review highlights 10 of the most influential publications shaping environmental applications of XRF, ICP-MS, and ICP-OES during 2024–2026. Each paper is discussed with emphasis on its technical contributions and broader impact on environmental monitoring, regulatory science, and instrumental development.

Between 2024 and 2026, environmental applications of vibrational spectroscopy advanced rapidly through innovations in multimodal instrumentation (combining 2 or more distinct measurement techniques), spectral data fusion, portable sensing technologies, and the integration of chemometrics and machine learning (ML). Near-infrared (NIR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy were increasingly deployed to address pressing environmental challenges such as microplastics contamination, soil organic matter quantification, indoor air quality monitoring, and pesticide residue detection in food and ecological systems. This article reviews 10 influential peer-reviewed papers published during this period, providing expanded narrative discussions of their technical contributions and explaining why each paper represents a significant impact on the field.

How are ICP-MS and ICP-OES revealing heavy-metal trends in pet food? In this short tutorial, we explain how these techniques have been tracking pet food trends, and what owners can do in response to these trends.

The primary goal of this study was to evaluate two microwave digestion systems for the acid decomposition of biological tissues: (1) a single reaction chamber (SRC) system and (2) a rotor-based, closed vessel microwave (RBCVM) system.

In this video clip, discover insights from Alexander Scheeline's talk on transient discharges at the Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry.

Patrick Parsons of the New York State Department of Health previews his upcoming talk at the Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry.

A recent study demonstrated that deep learning combined with ICP spectroscopy can accurately and affordably predict multiple soil properties.

This article provides a clear refresher on key spectroscopy techniques—IR/NIR, Raman, UV–Vis, XPS/XAS, NMR, ICP-MS, and LIBS—and their applications in the energy industry, from batteries and solar panels to fuel production and emissions monitoring.

Leading experts from Covalent Metrology, PerkinElmer, IAS, and Linde identify the top efficiency and purity challenges facing semiconductor manufacturers and reveal how advances in spectroscopy and automation are reshaping fabrication, contamination control, and process precision across the industry.

Top articles published this week include an interview with our Emerging Leader in Molecular Spectroscopy award winner Lingyan Shi, a mini-tutorial highlighting practical workflows and innovative applications, and an inside look at single-particle ICP-TOF-MS.

James Dudley Winefordner was a preeminent figure in analytical chemistry whose contributions to spectrochemical method development, instrumentation, and mentoring shaped generations of scientists.

Elemental analysis using ICP-OES and ICP-MS is essential across the lithium-ion battery lifecycle—ensuring safety, performance, traceability, and sustainable recycling from mining to manufacturing and end-of-life recovery.

This article discusses pre-analytical best practices, recent innovations in MW design, and other productivity tools to consider throughout the workflow, explaining how these factors collectively enhance analytical accuracy and data integrity.

Explore essential best practices for optimizing ICP-MS methodologies, enhancing accuracy, and tackling analytical challenges in diverse sample matrices.

This study used three distinct sample preparation techniques to examine the metal content of geological rocks.

A new study published in Minerals reveals that red coral artifacts unearthed in Xinjiang’s Shengjindian cemetery originated from the western Mediterranean, highlighting early Silk Road trade and long-distance cultural exchange during the Han Dynasty.

In this final part of our conversation with Harrington and Seibert, they discuss the main challenges that they encountered in their study and how we can improve elemental impurity analysis in pharmaceutical quality control.

In Part II of our conversation with James Harrington of RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, who was the lead author of this study, as well as coauthor Donna Seibert of Kalamazoo, Michigan, they talk about the reproducibility for Hg and V, as well as the ICP-MS and XRF results compare to one another.

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have demonstrated that a fast, laser-based mass spectrometry method—LA-ICP-TOF-MS—can accurately detect and identify airborne environmental particles, including toxic metal particles like ruthenium, without the need for complex sample preparation. The work offers a breakthrough in rapid, high-resolution analysis of environmental pollutants.

This month’s column investigates the elemental composition of electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

A recent study from Chiba University examined a new way to improve single-cell inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (scICP-MS).