IC-ICP-MS Speciation Analyzer

Elemental species separation and detection

Simply measuring the total amount of an element in a sample does not provide the complete picture. Industries such as pharmaceutical, food, and environmental often measure elements that can exist as multiple molecular forms, or ‘species’, that exhibit different physiochemical properties. Some can be toxic.

To determine a sample’s safety or toxicity, these industries need to identify and quantify the different species of an element that might be present in a sample. The method of choice for speciation analysis is ion chromatography (IC) coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS).

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Determining sample safety or toxicity using ion chromatography (IC) coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS).

IC-ICP-MS analyzer for speciation analysis

While total elemental content can be analyzed by ICP-MS, speciation analysis of trace elements is ideally performed by a Thermo Scientific IC-ICP-MS system. The speciation analyzer includes a metal-free IC system with high resolution ion exchange columns and simple online connectivity, together with high sensitivity ICP-MS and integrated software.

Configure the IC system with an ICP-MS system for your budget, throughput, performance, and detection requirements for your application.

Metal-free IC system

Separate individual ionic species without metal contamination.

Integrion IC system

ICP-MS system

Detect and quantify trace elements.
 

iCAP RQplus ICP-MS

Software

Control and process data, simplify your workflow and maximize efficiency.

Qtegra Intelligent Scientific Data Solution

System configurations

Speciation elementDionex Integrion HPIC SystemDionex ICS-6000 HPIC System
ArsenicSuitable*Recommended*, **
BromateRecommended*Suitable
ChromiumRecommendedSuitable
MercuryRecommendedSuitable
SeleniumSuitable*Recommended*, **
 Suitable SuitableRecommended Recommended
*Organic species**Enhanced optimization 

Which combination of IC and ICP-MS systems are right for you?

Contact us to determine your options.

Example elements and their toxic species

Arsenic
  • Arsenite As (III) and arsenate As (V) are inorganic toxic forms of arsenic.
  • Organic arsenic species are mildly toxic.
Mercury
  • Toxic methylmercury (MeHg+) species can be present in food such as fish.
  • Ethylmercury (EtHg+ or EtHgX) has a faster degradation and excretion rate with considerably lower chronic toxicity. However, acute intake of EtHg+ can occur by exposure to thiomersal, which is a bactericide in products such as eye drops, contact lens solutions, and vaccines.
Chromium
  • Chromium, Cr (III) is essential to human beings and involved in different biological processes.
  • Cr (VI) is highly toxic.

Other examples of elemental analyses that can benefit from ion chromatographic separation include selenium and lanthanides.

Featured resources

Webinar

Why and When to Couple IC with ICP-MS for Speciation Analysis

Hear why elemental speciation is important, its applications, and the optimal IC-ICP-MS setup for your laboratory.

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Applications notebook

Elemental Species Separation and Detection

Read summaries and download full application notes describing speciation of several different elements in a variety of matrices, from food to pharmaceuticals.

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Resources

Literature

Learning center

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