Comprehensive analysis of water samples in alignment with EN ISO Method 17294 using ICP-MS

Significance of the Topic

Monitoring of trace elements in water is essential to protect environmental and public health. Highly toxic elements such as arsenic cadmium mercury and lead pose serious risks even at low concentrations. The EN ISO 17294 standard defines guidelines for the use of ICP-MS in the analysis of various water matrices. A single method capable of accurate results across drinking surface ground and bottled waters streamlines laboratory workflows and supports regulatory compliance.

Objectives and Study Overview

The goal of the study was to evaluate the performance of the Thermo Scientific iCAP MSX ICP-MS combined with Argon Gas Dilution (AGD) for comprehensive elemental analysis of diverse water samples. Nineteen water types including tap bottled mineral well lake river and snow samples were analyzed following ISO 17294-1. The study spanned four weeks with over 5000 unknown samples and routine quality control checks to demonstrate robustness under varying matrix loads.

Used Instrumentation

The main instrumentation and software components included

• Thermo Scientific iCAP MSX ICP-MS with Argon Gas Dilution system
• Thermo Scientific QCell collision/reaction cell operated in helium KED mode
• Thermo Scientific iSC-65 Autosampler
• Qtegra Intelligent Scientific Data Solution software with HAWK Consumables and Maintenance Assistant

Methodology and Sample Preparation

Samples were filtered through 0.45 µm membranes and acidified to 2 % HNO3 and 0.5 % HCl. Calibration used six gravimetrically prepared standards covering major and trace elements from Li to U. Two certified reference materials LGC-6026 and SLRS-6 were analyzed repeatedly for accuracy. An internal standard mix of Sc Ge Rh In Ir and Tl was added online. Automated autotuning daily performance checks and scheduled maintenance ensured stable operation throughout extended sequences.

Main Results and Discussion

Linearity for all target elements exceeded r2 of 0.999 across wide concentration ranges. Instrument detection limits met or surpassed requirements of EN ISO 17294. Accuracy assessed by repeated CRM analysis yielded recoveries within 80–120 % for most elements. Internal standard recoveries remained stable within 80–120 % during 12 hour daily runs. AGD provided up to 5× online dilution to handle matrix variability without offline sample preparation. Element concentration ranges reflected expected diversity across water types.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The integrated AGD approach minimizes manual dilution reduces contamination risk and accelerates sample throughput. One comprehensive method enables simultaneous determination of major and trace elements in compliance with ISO regulations. Robust long-term stability and automated maintenance guidance help laboratories maintain productivity and data quality while lowering operational costs.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Further developments may include expanded automation for sample preparation integration real-time data analytics for early anomaly detection and adaptation of AGD-enabled ICP-MS to other challenging matrices such as seawater or industrial process streams. Machine learning algorithms could optimize QC criteria predictive maintenance and method fine tuning to meet ever more stringent monitoring requirements.

Conclusion

The Thermo Scientific iCAP MSX ICP-MS with AGD and Qtegra software delivers reliable high throughput multi-element water analysis according to EN ISO 17294. Excellent sensitivity linearity accuracy and stability were demonstrated across drinking surface ground bottled and snow samples over four weeks of operation. Online dilution simplified handling of variable matrices and supported consistent QC performance for over 5000 samples.

References

• ISO 17294-1:2004 Water quality Application of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry ICP-MS Part 1 General guidelines
• ISO 17294-2:2016 Water quality Application of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry ICP-MS Part 2 Determination of selected elements including uranium isotopes