ESAS & CANAS 2018 - Programm

Importance of the Topic

Plasma-based spectrometric techniques have become indispensable tools in modern analytical chemistry. They enable sensitive, multi-element detection across diverse sample matrices—from environmental and biological specimens to advanced materials and nanostructures. Continuous innovation in plasma sources, coupling strategies, and detector technologies drives improvements in detection limits, spatial resolution, and speciation capabilities, addressing challenges in environmental monitoring, bioimaging, forensic analysis, and quality control.

Objectives and Conference Overview

The Anwendertreffen Plasmaspektrometrie (March 20, 2018), CANAS (March 21–22, 2018), and ESAS (March 23, 2018) series aimed to bring together academic researchers, instrument vendors, and industrial practitioners to:

• Present cutting-edge developments in plasma spectrometry and related excitation/ionization sources.
• Share novel applications ranging from single-cell ICP-MS to forensic and environmental analysis.
• Discuss methodological advances in sample introduction, plasma coupling, and data interpretation.
• Foster collaboration and identify future research directions.

Used Instrumentation

The program featured a wide array of instrumentation and techniques, including:

• Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Tandem ICP-MS (MS/MS)
• Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Echelle Spectrometers
• Laser Ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS) and Continuum Source Graphite Furnace AAS
• Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AF4) and Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) hyphenations
• Electrothermal Vaporization (ETV) interfaces and FAPA plasma excitation sources
• Hydride Generation Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry (HG-AFS)

Main Themes and Discussions

The conference sessions highlighted several key areas:

1. Advanced Plasma Sources and Coupling: Exploration of FAPA, halo-FAPA, and novel low-power plasmas for emission and mass spectrometry.
2. Elemental Speciation and Imaging: Integration of LA-ICP-MS and bioimaging approaches for tissue analysis, single-particle/cell investigations, and mapping of trace elements in environmental and biomedical contexts.
3. Nanoparticle Analysis: High-resolution atomic absorption, AF4-ICP-MS, and single-particle ICP-MS strategies for size distribution, reaction monitoring, and fate in biological systems.
4. Battery and Material Analysis: Laser ablation methods for stoichiometry of thin films, lithium battery electrodes, and high-precision determination of trace metals in complex matrices.
5. Environmental and Forensic Applications: Techniques for mercury monitoring in water and human samples, forensic tape backing analysis, and monitoring of decomposition products from lithium-ion batteries.

Benefits and Practical Applications

These developments translate into concrete advantages:

• Enhanced Detection Limits: Improved sensitivity enables quantification of ultratrace elements and speciation of non-metals.
• Spatially Resolved Analysis: LA-ICP-MS and imaging modalities support microscale mapping in biological tissues and materials research.
• Robust Speciation: Hyphenated methods (AF4, CE, hydride generation) offer accurate separation and quantification of species in complex matrices.
• Process Monitoring: Real-time and online analysis capabilities facilitate quality control in battery manufacturing and environmental sampling.

Future Trends and Potential Uses

Looking ahead, several directions are poised to shape the field:

• Miniaturization and Portability: Development of compact plasma sources and detectors for field-deployable applications.
• Multimodal Approaches: Integration of elemental, molecular, and imaging data streams for comprehensive sample characterization.
• Single-Cell and Single-Molecule Analysis: Continued refinement of ICP-MS sensitivity and temporal resolution for biological investigations.
• Non-Metal Detection: Expanding plasma-based methods to include non-metallic analytes via novel excitation and detection schemes.
• Automated Workflows: Partial or full automation of sample introduction (e.g., ETV, LA) to improve reproducibility and throughput.

Conclusion

The 2018 Plasmaspektrometrie, CANAS, and ESAS meetings provided a comprehensive snapshot of current innovations in plasma spectrometry. Presentations underscored the importance of coupling technological advances with targeted applications in environmental, biomedical, and industrial contexts. As instrumentation continues to evolve, collaborative efforts between academia and industry will be essential to translate these advances into routine, high-impact analytical solutions.