CAWR high-performance analytical hub

It is analytical technique in which the elemental composition of mostly water-dissolved samples can be determined using plasma and a spectrophotometer. Atoms and ions absorb energy created in an Argon plasma and get excited. These excited atoms then release that energy excess emitting light at specific and wavelengths (characteristic for each atom/ion) as they return to their ground state.

The light emitted is directly proportional to the number of atoms/ions undertaking this transition. This light is measured at each wavelength and used to calculate the amount of the element that created those atoms/ions.

It is a type of mass spectrometry that uses an inductively coupled plasma decomposes a sample into its most elemental particles, i.e. atoms. These atoms are then ionized in a self-sustained Argon plasma becoming ions.During this process other polyatomic ions and clusters can be formed. These ions are then transferred to an octupole collision cell by means of ionic lenses, where they react with Helium and break apart before being mass analysed in a quadrupole.

The Agilent 7900 ICP-MS is the latest generation of long-lived Agilent ICP-MS instruments equipped with of new re-design ion lens and improvements in the mass analyser section. The outcome of this is a system that provides lower detection limits, a wider dynamic range, better signal-to-noise ratio and a higher tolerance for total dissolved solids (up to 25% with the Ultra High Matrix Introduction design).

This powerful analytical tool allows for highly accurate screening of samples for targeted and non-targeted analysis, enabled by advanced software such as Thermo Scientific’s Compound Discoverer. It can also be used to rigorously quantitate several hundreds of known compounds in a single run.

Utilising the suite of sample preparation techniques available to us at CAWR – both online and offline SPE and Advanced Solvent Extraction, the Q-Exactive is an indispensable tool that allows analysis of many relevant matrices, including water (drinking, surface, ground, treated and untreated sewage effluents etc), soil (clay, loam, sand etc), plant material, synthetic mulches and many more.

The range of compounds ideally suited for HRAMS-LCMS analysis includes, but is not limited to pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, flame retardants, plasticisers and other leachable and extractable compounds, perfluorinated compounds, drugs of abuse, endocrine disruptors and disinfection by-products among others.

The environmental impact of using the EQuan MAX Plus is also considerably lower than traditional sample preparation techniques, as the sample’s volume required for analysis is greatly reduced, which in turn reduces sample transport and storage costs. The volumes of solvent(s) required are also much lower when comparing to off-line techniques.

The extraction efficiency of manual SPE can be highly variable. Automating the SPE process eliminates extensive and tedious manual sample preparation steps; decreases variability; increases reliability and extraction efficiency; and decreases sample preparation time. In addition, ASPE reduces exposure of laboratory staff and the environment to potentially hazardous solvents.

The Integrion system has many potential applications, including, but not limited to the analysis of major anions such as fluoride, chloride, nitrate, nitrite and sulphate, as well as major cations such as lithium, sodium, ammonium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Other applications include analysis of sugars, amines, disinfection by-products, vitamins and organic acids.