This study investigates the applicability of a quadrupole-based ICP-MS fitted with a dynamic reaction cell (DRC) to analyze high-purity phosphoric and sulfuric acid used in the semiconductor industry. It compares the DRC approach with traditional ICP-MS background reduction techniques to compensate for phosphorus- and sulfur-based interferences and presents data that suggests that the DRC technology can reach the next generation of semiconductor purity levels for these chemicals.
PNNL and BaySpec Launch Compact Mass Spectrometry System for Rapid Narcotics Detection
July 8th 2025The U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (PNNL) VaporID, which is a newly developed portable air sampling system incorporating a miniaturized mass spectrometer (MS), can detect trace levels of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and even explosives like TNT with great accuracy.
Mediterranean Origins of Red Coral Artifacts in Xinjiang Reveal Ancient Silk Road Trade Links
June 26th 2025A 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.
A Life Measured in Peaks: Honoring Alan George Marshall (1944–2025)
June 18th 2025A pioneer of FT-ICR Mass Spectrometry, Alan G. Marshall (1944–2025), is best known for co-inventing Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS), a transformative technique that enabled ultrahigh-resolution analysis of complex mixtures. Over a career spanning more than five decades at institutions like the University of British Columbia, The Ohio State University, and Florida State University, he published over 650 peer-reviewed papers and mentored more than 150 scientists. Marshall’s work profoundly impacted fields ranging from astrobiology to petroleomics and earned him numerous prestigious awards and fellowships. Revered for his intellect, mentorship, and dedication to science, he leaves behind a legacy that continues to shape modern mass spectrometry.
How Do We Improve Elemental Impurity Analysis in Pharmaceutical Quality Control?
May 16th 2025In 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.