News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 43, 2026

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 19th October 2026? Check out new documents from the field of spectroscopy/spectrometry and related techniques!

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This week we bring you application notes by Agilent Technologies, LECO, Metrohm and Shimadzu!

1. Agilent Technologies: Nickel and Cobalt Separation using Methyl Fluoride for Ni-59 Determination by ICP-QQQ

Evaluation of the Agilent 8900 ICP-QQQ for novel isobar separation affecting radionuclides

• Application note
• Full PDF for download 

Decommissioning of nuclear sites represents a significant global challenge given the range of sample types and radionuclides that must be characterized. In the UK alone, the estimated final decommissioning cost for existing sites is predicted to range from £95 to 218 billion. Accurate measurement of radionuclides in decommissioning wastes improves measurement confidence and can contribute to safer, more cost-effective decommissioning.^1,2 

Nickel-59 is a radionuclide that is primarily formed through long-term neutron bombardment of stable ⁵⁸Ni in steel in nuclear reactors. It has a long half-life of 76,000 ± 5000 years.³ Accurate characterization of ⁵⁹Ni is therefore important for appropriate waste sentencing and long-term monitoring.⁴

Mass spectrometry, including triple quadrupole ICP-MS (ICP-QQQ), is increasingly used as a rapid technique for measuring long-lived radionuclides in decommissioning wastes. For this approach to be effective, isobaric, polyatomic, and tailing interferences must first be removed. In the case of ⁵⁹Ni, monoisotopic ⁵⁹Co, polyatomic ⁵⁸Ni¹H, and peak tailing from the adjacent ⁵⁸Ni peak (68.08% abundance)⁵ must all be fully separated before measurement. Previous mass spectrometric measurements of ⁵⁹Ni have been performed using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS).^6,7 However, there is no routine analytical technique in place for ⁵⁹Ni determination. So far, significant interferences have prevented measurement of ⁵⁹Ni by ICP-MS. Offline separation of Ni and Co using anion exchange or extraction chromatography is effective.^8,9 However, because ⁵⁹Co is monoisotopic, some level of interference at m/z 59 is still expected. 

The in-instrument interference removal capability of ICP-QQQ has been shown to benefit multiple medium- and long-lived radionuclides, including ⁹⁰Sr, ⁹³Zr, ⁹⁹Tc, ¹²⁹I, and ¹³⁵/¹³⁷Cs.^10–12 A recent study using methyl fluoride (CH₃F) as a cell gas for the determination of a range of radionuclides by ICP-QQQ suggested that this method may be close to being considered an analytical technique for ⁵⁹Ni.¹³ This study builds on those results through a detailed characterization of CH₃F as a cell gas for Ni/Co separation using an Agilent 8900 ICP-QQQ.

Experimental

Instrumentation 

All measurements were performed using an Agilent 8900 ICP-QQQ (#100 Advanced Applications model) located at the Agilent Center of Excellence in Cheadle, UK. The instrument was equipped with a MicroMist nebulizer, a Scott double-pass spray chamber, a 2.5 mm internal-diameter quartz torch, Ni sample and skimmer cones, and x-lens. Before use, the instrument was tuned using a mixed stable standard solution to ensure that sensitivity, measurement uncertainty, oxide and doubly charged ion formation rates, and mass axis settings were within operational norms. 

The instrument is equipped with four cell gas lines. The CH₃F cylinder (Air Products) was pre-diluted to 10% CH₃F, with the balance in helium (He). It was introduced through the hydrogen cell line, which allows flow rates up to 10 mL/min.

Conclusion 

The results demonstrate a significant step towards enabling radioactive 59Ni measurement by ICP-QQQ using optimized cell gas conditions. The stable isotope 60Ni was used as a stable analog of 59Ni as there is no available radioactive standard to evaluate 59Ni directly. Operating the Agilent 8900 ICP-QQQ with a fixed CH3F cell gas flow rate of 10.0 mL/min, and added helium, would provide the most effective separation of 59Co and 59Ni product ions. This approach has the potential to allow the concentration of the radioactive Ni isotope to be reliably assessed. 

The method can next be tested on dissolved steel samples, which are the main sample matrix of interest within the nuclear industry. A broader issue is the lack of a suitable 59Ni tracer for method development and validation, which will need to be addressed as interest in this radionuclide increases.

2. LECO: Determination of Moisture in Pet Food

• Application note
• Full PDF for download

Determining moisture in pet food is fundamental for quality control, regulatory compliance, and nutritional evaluation. Pet food nutrient guarantees (protein, fat, fiber, etc.) are expressed on an as-fed basis and moisture content affects how these nutrients are calculated. High moisture content often reflects a lower nutrient concentration. To compare different pet food products fairly, nutrients are often converted to a dry matter basis, requiring accurate moisture data. High moisture content in non-canned pet food products can also lead to mold growth, toxin production, and yeast proliferation, which can be detrimental to an animal's health. This is especially important in semi-moist products, fresh/frozen diets, and treats. 

Pet food regulations and industry standards worldwide establish requirements for product labeling, nutritional declarations, and quality control. Moisture content is a critical parameter, as declared values must accurately reflect product composition and meet applicable requirements. Moisture levels that exceed declared values can result in product recalls, customer complaints, reduced shelf life, and increased product waste. As a result, accurate and reliable moisture determination is essential for maintaining product quality, protecting brand reputation, and preserving consumer confidence.

Instrument Model and Configuration 

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is an analytical technique in which changes in sample mass due to changes in the physical and chemical properties of materials is measured as a function of temperature and time. TGA is commonly used to determine selected characteristics of materials that exhibit either mass loss or gain due to decomposition, oxidation, or loss of volatile materials such as moisture. Macro TGA systems typically use a nominal one-gram sample mass to allow more accurate mass change measurements in heterogeneous materials.

The LECO TGM800 is a macro thermogravimetric analyzer designed to determine the moisture content of materials using a mass loss-on-drying technique. Mass loss of the sample is measured as a function of the oven temperature while controlling the atmosphere and ventilation rate. The TGM800 allows up to 16 samples to be analyzed simultaneously, with a maximum oven temperature of 175 °C.

3. Metrohm: Fish meal analysis by near-infrared spectroscopy

NIR spectroscopy reduces analysis time from hours to seconds

• Application note
• Full PDF for download

Regarding animal nutrition, fish meal is a premium source of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and essential minerals. Due to its nutritional properties, it is not only widely used in aquaculture, but also as an additive to swine feed and poultry feed. To analyze the main quality components of fish meal, such as fiber, fat, protein, moisture, and ash content, multiple wet chemistry methods are usually needed. Instead of waiting hours for the results from these wet chemical techniques, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) delivers results within seconds without the use of chemicals. This allows manufacturers to execute frequent checks against product specifications and perform fish meal quality control with ease.

EXPERIMENTAL EQUIPMENT 

More than 1700 samples of fish meal from different suppliers were analyzed with an OMNIS NIR Analyzer Solid (Figure 1) and a large sample cup. Every fish meal powder sample was measured in reflection measurement mode at five different positions to create an average spectrum. This minimizes sample inhomogeneities and results in a more representative NIR spectrum. Model development and validation was performed with the OMNIS Software.

CONCLUSION

This Application Note shows the feasibility of using near-infrared spectroscopy for fish meal feed analysis. The main composition parameters of protein, fat, ash, fiber, and water content are determined in seconds without the use of chemicals. NIRS helps to save costs and improve lab safety when compared to standard wet chemistry methods. By using NIRS for efficient multiparameter analysis, quality control laboratories can save hours of time per sample measurement (Table 1), resulting in much higher sample throughput.

4. Shimadzu: X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis of Crude Drugs

• Application note
• Full PDF for download

User benefits

• Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis enables rapid, non-destructive analysis of inorganic elements in crude drugs with only simple sample preparation. 
• ALTRACE EDXRF spectrometers offer sufficient analytical sensitivity for screening samples with respect to the limits specified in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia for testing heavy metals and arsenic. 
• Qualitative-quantitative analysis can easily determine the elemental composition of crude drugs, including not only heavy metals but also mineral components.

Crude drugs are derived from natural sources, such as plants and animals. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of their elemental composition is important for ensuring their quality and safety. In particular, the content of mineral components and heavy metals in crude drugs can vary depending on the cultivation environment and processing steps. Therefore, they must be evaluated by appropriate analytical methods. 

Methods for analyzing elemental composition include colorimetric methods, such as specified in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP) for testing heavy metals and arsenic. Instrumental techniques, such as atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), are also used in some cases. 

The heavy metals test protocol in the JP adds a sodium sulfide reagent under acidic conditions and then evaluates resulting coloration as a lead (Pb)-equivalent value. That offers the advantage of being able to assessthe total amount of heavy metals with a simple process. However, it has several drawbacks, including the need for skilled operation and reagent handling, as well as limited sensitivity and reproducibility. 

In contrast, though AAS and ICP-AES, ICP-MS enable highly sensitive and highly accurate analysis, they require complete dissolution of samples in an acid, such as nitric acid or hydrochloric acid, as well as advanced expertise in chemical pretreatment. In addition, the instrument running costs and installation requirements can make their adoption difficult. Given such background circumstances, the adoption of analytical methods that enable rapid analysis with simplersample preparation are increasingly expected. 

This article describes examples of analyzing hazardous heavy metals in crude drugs using the calibration curve method and examples of qualitative-quantitative analysis using the Fundamental Parameter (FP) method, both performed with an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF)spectrometer.

Features of EDXRF 

A major feature of ALTRACE EDXRF Spectrometer is that samples can be analyzed as-is or with only simple sample preparation, such as crushing. It can be used to analyze samples in various forms, including solids, powders, and liquids, and elements with a wide range of concentrations, from the ppm level to 100 %. 

Two quantitative analysis methods are available, which can be selected according to the given application. The calibration curve method requires standard samples and the FP (fundamental parameter) method does not require standard samples and derives quantitative values based on theoretical intensity calculations. 

In addition, because EDXRF spectrometry is a non-destructive analytical technique, the same sample can be subsequently reanalyzed by other analytical methods, which is also a major advantage.

Conclusion 

EDXRF spectrometry is an effective technique for simple, rapid, non-destructive analysis of mineral components and heavy metals in crude drugs. By using an ALTRACE EDXRF spectrometer, the burden on analysts associated with sample preparation can be reduced and large numbers of samples can be analyzed efficiently. As the quality control and monitoring of hazardous elements become increasingly important, X-ray fluorescence analysis holds considerable promise as a useful alternative technique in the field of crude drug analysis.