Accelerating Food Analysis using Advanced ICP-MS Technology

Importance of the Topic

Analysing toxic and essential elements in food matrices ensures consumer safety and regulatory compliance. Advanced multi-element techniques such as ICP-MS combine high sensitivity and wide dynamic ranges for simultaneous detection of major, minor and trace elements.

Study Objectives and Overview

This article examines advanced interference removal approaches in both single and triple quadrupole ICP-MS systems to accelerate food analysis workflows. The objectives include:

• Evaluating collision/reaction cell strategies in single and triple quadrupole ICP-MS
• Demonstrating automated method development via the Reaction Finder Method Development Assistant
• Validating analytical accuracy using NIST 1515 apple leaves and NIST 1573a tomato leaves

Methodology and Instrumentation

Samples (0.3–0.5 g) underwent microwave digestion in HNO₃ and HCl before analysis. Calibration employed high-purity single element standards and autodilution of samples outside calibration ranges. Interference removal was tested in two modes: helium KED and oxygen reaction in a triple quadrupole cell. The analytical platform comprised:

• Thermo Scientific iCAP TQ ICP-MS operated in SQ-KED and TQ-O₂ modes
• Elemental Scientific prepFAST autodilution system
• Qtegra ISDS software with integrated autotune and Reaction Finder Assistant

Main Results and Discussion

Analysis of NIST 1515 and 1573a reference materials showed excellent agreement with certified values for major and trace elements, including arsenic and selenium. Triple quadrupole mode with O₂ reaction effectively removed polyatomic interferences such as ⁴⁰Ar³⁵Cl⁺ (As), Nd²⁺⁺ and Gd²⁺⁺ (rare earth interferences). Limits of detection were in the sub-µg·kg⁻¹ range for critical toxic elements.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• High throughput analysis with single aspiration for all elements reduces sample-to-sample time.
• Automated autodilution frees operator time and minimizes manual handling errors.
• Integrated software assistant streamlines method development for various analytes.
• Triple quadrupole technology enhances data quality for complex food matrices.

Future Trends and Possibilities

Advancements may include real-time adaptive interference correction, expanded libraries of reaction chemistries, and broader adoption of automated method intelligence. Integration with laboratory information management systems and coupling with chromatographic separations could further extend the scope of ICP-MS in food safety and nutrition studies.

Conclusion

The combination of triple quadrupole ICP-MS and automated method development support provides a robust, efficient workflow for comprehensive elemental analysis in food. This approach meets stringent regulatory requirements and addresses growing demands for rapid, high-quality data in food quality assurance.

References

• Thermo Fisher Scientific. Total elemental analysis of food samples using the Thermo Scientific iCAP TQ ICP-MS with autodilution, Application Note 43446; 2019.