January 28th 2025
A recent study from Chiba University examined a new way to improve single-cell inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (scICP-MS).
Spectroscopy’s Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy: A Look at ICP-MS Analysis of Nanostructures
January 15th 2024On Monday January 15th at 8 am local time, Eduardo Bolea-Fernández of the University of Zaragoza, in Zaragoza, Spain, was recognized as Spectroscopy’s Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy for 2024. Here’s a recap of this award session.
Gary Hieftje: Pioneering Analytical Chemistry and Nurturing Future Scientists
January 1st 2024Spectroscopy is publishing a series of feature articles highlighting the lives and careers of the most influential spectroscopists over the past 100 years. These individuals were selected by our Editorial Advisory Board and the editors to represent the leading figures in spectroscopy over the century. Our first featured Icons of Spectroscopy Laureate is Professor Gary Hieftje.
TARIM Calcite: A New Benchmark for Laser ICP-MS In Situ Calcite U–Pb Dating
November 13th 2023A type of calcite whose name comes from a resource-rich basin in northwest China was earmarked as a promising reference material for laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) in situ U–Pb dating.
New Insights into Ancient Greek Coinage: Exploring Gold Purification Techniques
October 25th 2023In a recent study, researchers used ICP-MS to learn new insights into ancient coinage and gold purification techniques are revealed through the analysis of platinum-group elements and gold in silver coins from various ancient civilizations.
The Mysteries of Noisy Single-Particle ICP-TOF-MS Data: Insights from SciX 2023
October 10th 2023At SciX 2023 in Sparks, Nevada, Alexander Gundlach-Graham from Iowa State University delivered a groundbreaking talk on the origins of noise in single-particle ICP-TOF-MS data and its impact on particle analysis accuracy. His presentation unveiled a promising Monte Carlo simulation approach to better understand and mitigate signal variability in this cutting-edge analytical technique.
An Interview with 2023 Strock Award Recipient Maria Montes-Bayón
September 20th 2023Earlier this year, Spectroscopy spoke to Maria Montes-Bayón of the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Oviedo (Asturias, Spain) regarding her work with single cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to study the uptake and apoptotic status of nanoplatinum (IV) treated cells, specifically selenized yeast.
GC-ICP-MS for Process and Quality Control in Semiconductor Manufacturing
September 1st 2023Manufacturing advanced electronic devices requires the production of high-quality semiconductors and integrated circuit chips. In this article, the authors explain how GC, when coupled with ICP-MS, enables the detection of elements that are essential in semiconductor production.
Study of Heavy Metals and Methyl-Mercury in Fungi in Markets of Madrid
September 1st 2023The bioaccumulation of heavy metals can lead to disastrous effects on the environment and human health. Here, ICP-MS was applied to study 48 different mushrooms collected at local markets in Madrid, Spain, showcasing its effectiveness at detecting heavy metals in edible fungi.
Advancements in Chromium Analysis: Highly Sensitive Determination of Total Chromium in Seawater
July 17th 2023Researchers have developed a highly sensitive method for determining total chromium in seawater using ultrasound nebulization-dielectric barrier discharge (UNDBD) vapor generation coupled with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
New Method Enables Accurate Measurement of Iodine-129 in Decommissioning Wastes Using ICP-MS/MS
June 9th 2023Scientists have developed an optimized method for the precise measurement of iodine-129 in decommissioning wastes using tandem ICP-MS/MS. Their study demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach in achieving low-level measurements with improved sensitivity for waste characterization and environmental monitoring.
Machine Learning Unveils Efficient Classification of Nanoparticles from Noisy spICP-TOF-MS Data
June 2nd 2023New research has demonstrated a two-stage machine learning strategy to overcome bias in spICP-TOF-MS data and improve the classification of nanoparticles. The approach achieves high accuracy in identifying engineered, incidental, and natural nanoparticle types, providing a robust and efficient method for nanoparticle classification in complex samples.
Toward Normalization of Quantitative Single Cell ICP-MS Experiments
June 1st 2023Single-cell ICP-MS was used to study the uptake and apoptotic status of nanoplatinum (IV) treated cells, specifically selenized yeast, and the question of using commercialized reference material to validate single cell ICP-MS analysis is addressed.
New Method Enables Precise Determination of Mass-Dependent Tellurium (Te) Isotope Composition
May 26th 2023A double spike analytical method has been developed for precise determination of mass-dependent tellurium (Te) isotope compositions in meteorites and terrestrial materials, enabling insights into sample geochemical characteristics and origins.
Advancements in Measuring Europium Isotopic Composition Revealed
May 24th 2023A team of French researchers has developed a high-precision method for measuring the isotopic composition of europium (Eu) using multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS), shedding details on the isotopic systematics of this element in geological samples.