News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 40, 2026

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This week we bring you application notes by Agilent Technologies, LECO, Shimadzu and Thermo Fisher Scientific!

1. Agilent Technologies: Analysis of Environmental Waters by ICP-QQQ with a Dual-Cell System and Discrete Sampling

Fast, accurate measurements by the Agilent 9500 ICP-QQQ in Advanced Helium Mode

• Application note
• Full PDF for download 

Agilent ICP-MS instrumentation has become standard equipment in many environmental laboratories, recognized for its speed, sensitivity, accuracy, and robustness. Its ability to integrate seamlessly with autosamplers, high‑speed discrete sampling systems, and autodilutors has further contributed to its widespread adoption.^1–3 These capabilities are especially important in contract environmental laboratories, where increasing competition and financial pressures have made sample throughput and productivity a top priority. At the same time, laboratories are expected to process more samples in less time, without sacrificing data quality or ease-of-use. To address these demands, the Agilent 9500 Triple Quadrupole ICP-MS (ICP-QQQ) includes a unique Dual-Cell System (DCS) collision/reaction cell (CRC). For routine testing of large numbers of samples, the DCS can be operated in Advanced Helium Mode (AHM), a revolutionary collision-cell mode that delivers excellent-quality data across a wide range of analytes.

AHM delivers high‑sensitivity measurements while effectively removing interferences through a dual mechanism of collision‑induced dissociation (CID) and kinetic energy discrimination (KED), eliminating the need for multiple cell conditions. 

AHM: A revolution in helium-based interference removal 

AHM represents a major advancement in He-KED collision-cell technology by dynamically optimizing DCS conditions for both low- and high-mass elements in real time. As a result, AHM provides an approximately 20-fold improvement in sensitivity for low-mass elements and approximately a twofold improvement for mid- to high-mass elements. By enabling interference removal across the entire periodic table in a single gas mode, AHM replaces no gas, conventional He, and high energy (HE) He mode. Eliminating cell‑gas switching simplifies the workflow and accelerates sample measurement using the 9500 ICP-QQQ with DCS. 

As shown in Figure 1, the DCS incorporates a two-stage ion guide design (front and rear ion guides) and rapid cell voltage control. These features underpin the improved performance of AHM relative to conventional He-KED mode. Further technical details of the DCS and AHM are described elsewhere.⁴

AVS MS discrete sampling: Maximizing sample throughput and minimizing maintenance 

The 9500 ICP-QQQ can also be fitted with the optional Agilent AVS MS discrete sampling accessory, which is ideal for high-throughput applications. The AVS MS minimizes both sample delivery and rinsing times, significantly accelerating the analytical cycle. When combined with AHM, the 9500 with AVS MS reduces both the analysis time per sample and the interface’s exposure to the complex sample matrices common in environmental samples.

The AVS MS is an automated multi-port switching valve system that directs sample and rinse solutions through different flow paths.^1,2 It introduces sample to the ICP-MS only during data acquisition, while a clean blank solution is nebulized at all other times. This approach not only increases sample throughput but also reduces the amount of sample that reaches the instrument, resulting in lower cleaning requirements and improved long-term stability. 

By combining AVS MS discrete sampling and a single AHM collision cell mode for all elements, laboratories can achieve higher sample throughput and lower maintenance frequency, ultimately reducing operating costs and improving margins. 

In this study, certified reference materials (CRMs) representative of the routine workload in contract environmental laboratories were analyzed by the 9500 ICP-QQQ to assess accuracy, productivity, and long‑term stability.

Conclusion 

The study showed that the Agilent 9500 ICP-QQQ with Dual-Cell System (DCS) operating in Advanced Helium Mode (AHM) and equipped with an integrated AVS MS discrete sampler delivered exceptional performance for routine environmental analyses. 

Over 140 samples, including real-world environmental water samples, were analyzed in under 140 minutes, with no need for matrix matching the calibration standards or recalibration. The 9500 ICP-QQQ workflow delivered a 50% increase in sample throughput compared with a comparable single‑quad ICP‑MS method, substantially improving overall productivity. 

The method’s accuracy was confirmed through multiple measurements of water, soil, and sediment CRMs. Each sample was analyzed in under one minute, highlighting the method’s capacity for high‑throughput analysis while maintaining accuracy, as demonstrated by recoveries within 100 ± 10%. The long-term stability test results confirmed the robust performance of the 9500 ICP-QQQ with UHMI and AVS MS for the analysis of high-TDS samples, with no internal standard failures over more than two hours. 

The results confirm fast analysis, effective interference removal, and robust, stable performance during the analysis of high‑matrix samples over long runs—all critical performance criteria for demanding environmental workflows. 

In an increasingly competitive landscape, where environmental laboratories are under pressure to improve productivity without compromising data quality, the 9500 ICP-QQQ controlled by Agilent OpenLab ICP-MS software operating in a single gas cell mode offers a powerful solution. AHM streamlines analytical workflows, reduces instrument maintenance demands, and delivers robust, reproducible results, enhancing overall operational efficiency.

2. LECO: Temperature-Dependent Determination of Total Carbon (TC), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Residual Oxidizable Carbon (ROC), and Total Inorganic Carbon (TIC) in Soil

• Application note
• Full PDF for download

Total organic carbon (TOC) analysis is a widely used indicator of soil quality in agricultural and ecological systems. Because TOC reflects the amount of carbon stored in soil organic matter, it serves as a strong measure of soil health, fertility, and its capacity to sequester atmospheric carbon. Organic carbon supports essential soil functions, including microbial activity, nutrient cycling, and soil aggregation, which in turn improves water-holding capacity, reduces erosion, and strengthens the resilience of cropping systems. These qualities are especially important in regenerative agriculture, where restoring ecosystem function is a central goal. TOC measurements are also valuable for evaluating the impact of management practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced tillage, and the application of compost or manure. By tracking TOC levels, growers can optimize soil amendment strategies to build organic matter effectively without excessive application. 

Residual oxidizable carbon (ROC) is the portion of soil organic carbon that is more stable than actively cycling carbon, yet can still be oxidized through chemical or thermal processes, typically at temperatures between 400–600 °C. Unlike biologically active carbon pools, ROC represents a long-lasting, non-bioavailable carbon reserve made up of materials such as charcoal, biochar, lignin, humus, and graphite. Because these carbon forms decompose slowly, they contribute to durable soil structure, improved nutrient retention, and gradual carbon release. Measuring ROC provides insight into the stability of soil carbon and helps differentiate persistent carbon from rapidly degradable fractions. By comparing ROC to TOC, growers can estimate how much of the soil organic carbon is readily available for biological processes versus how much of it contributes to long-term carbon sequestration.

Instrument Model and Configuration 

The LECO CM812 is a multiphase carbon and moisture determinator with a variable ramp furnace and a wide carbon detection range that is specifically designed to differentiate various forms of carbon by the temperature at which they combust. This capability facilitates the temperature differentiation determination of the different species of carbon in soil.

Typical Data 

The low carbon calibration was performed utilizing a linear, force through origin calibration using LECO 502-696 (Lot 1005) Synthetic Carbon LCRM (1.01 % C). The high carbon calibration was performed utilizing a linear, full regression calibration using LECO 502-696 (Lot 1005) Synthetic Carbon LCRM (1.01 % C) and LECO 502-905 (Lot 1002) Synthetic Carbon LCRM (5.00 % C). The calibrations were verified using LECO 502-934 (Lot 1002) Synthetic Carbon LCRM (0.53 % C) and a reduced sample mass of LECO 502-905 (Lot 1002) Synthetic Carbon LCRM (5.00 % C). The results are reported on a dry basis.

3. Shimadzu: Trace Elements Analysis in Steel by ICP-MS

• Application note
• Full PDF for download

User Benefits

• Even high-matrix metal samples can be analyzed using the Aerosol Dilution System. 
• Trace elements in steel can be analyzed simultaneously under a single He collision mode, reducing analysis time. 
• Operating costs can be reduced by using a mini torch, which reduces argon consumption.

In high-performance metallic materials such as steel, material properties are strongly influenced by trace element concentrations, making their proper control extremely important. Conventionally, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) has been widely used for trace element analysis in metallic materials. In Japan, steel samples have been controlled and analyzed based on JIS G 12011) and JIS G 1258. 2) Recently, however, as metallic materials have become increasingly sophisticated, there has been a growing need to control elements at concentrations below those that can be addressed by conventional methods.

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is known as a highly sensitive technique for trace element analysis, but in the past it was not always suitable for analyzing high-matrix samples such as metals. In recent years, however, improvements in sample introduction systems, including gas dilution technology, have made it possible to apply ICP-MS to high-matrix samples as well. 

This article describes the trace element analysis of certified reference materials for steel using the Aerosol Dilution System installed as standard in the ICPMS-2050 (Fig. 1). By reducing the amount of sample introduced into the plasma through gas dilution, matrix-induced decreases in signal intensity and signal drift could be effectively suppressed, enabling stable analytical results. The results are presented below.

Conclusion 

In this application news article, trace elements in a certified reference material for steel were analyzed using the ICPMS2040/2050. Agreement with the certified values confirmed the accuracy of the analytical results. In addition, for the elements analyzed in this study, simultaneous analysis under a single condition was possible without changing the cell conditions, thereby reducing the analysis time. By using a mini torch, the ICPMS-2040/2050 reduces argon gas consumption while enabling stable analysis of high-matrix metal samples such as steel.

4. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Unbiased Color Analysis using UV-Visible Spectrophotometers

• Application note
• Full PDF for download

Across a range of different applications, the color of a material can be an important quality assessment. For certain environments, like textiles and paint manufacturers, the color must match an established criteria to ensure product consistency. In other areas, like water analysis and pharmaceutical manufacturing,¹- ⁴ the color of a product may indicate the presence of undesired substances. While the specific areas of study can vary greatly, the ability to rigorously assess a given sample’s color is shared among these application spaces. Visual methods for determining color have been used in many of these industries; however, technician-to-technician biases inherently influence the analysis. This can lead to discrepancies between testing subjects and testing sites. As a result, it is often preferred to use an unbiased instrument-based method for precisely determining the color of a given product or sample. 

The human eye is able to collect the light reflected off a surface, leading to the perception of color. Since the color range we can see covers the aptly named visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum (400 – 700 nm), UV-Visible spectrophotometers are often used for color analysis. These instruments are used to assess a material’s response to light in the ultraviolet (UV) and visible spectral range. Based on the electronic structure of the material, light within this range is either absorbed, transmitted, or reflected off the material of interest. Given that color perception is based on the collected reflections from a material’s surface, UV-Visible spectroscopy is an ideal technique for this analysis. 

Once the visible spectrum of a given sample, either in liquid or solid form, is collected, there are a number of unique analysis methods that can be used to report the color. As there are many different industries which require this analysis, a multitude of different standardized methods exist which call for different color analysis procedures. Herein, a selection of these standard color analyses is detailed, and information pertaining to the industry standards required for these analyses are discussed. For these methods, special attention is focused on the use of UV-Visible techniques.

Summary 

The color of a finished product can have implications on the quality, both in terms of the appearance and the presence of degraded materials or contaminants. As shown herein, there exist many standardized methods for ascertaining the color of a given substance. While visual methods can be applied, the use of a UV-Visible spectrophotometer is widely accepted and is helpful in providing an unbiased technique for color analysis.