Elemental Analysis

Services for the identification and quantification of elements and isotopes.

USP <232> and <233> compliance testing.

Experts in elemental and isotopic analysis of organic and inorganic materials

Elemental analysis is a process where a sample is analyzed for its elemental (and sometimes isotopic) composition. Elemental analysis can be qualitative (determining what elements are present), and it can be quantitative (determining how much of each element is present).

There are numerous techniques for analyzing elemental composition. Please see below for an overview

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More Info Availabel for Elemental Analysis from Triclinic Lab

Elemental analysis -

Detection, identification, and quantification:

Elemental analysis and testing includes identification and quantification of elements, elemental compounds and molecular species. Sample types and matrices tested for trace elements include organic and non-organic, aqueous and non-aqueous materials. Elemental trace and ultra-trace analysis detection ranges from parts per million (ppm), to parts per billion (ppb) and parts per trillion (ppt) levels, using proven techniques.

Application AND Technique Description
Elemental analysis is a qualitative and quantitative process for identifying the elemental composition of materials (e.g., chemical compounds, minerals, metals, fluids). Certain elemental techniques can even identify the isotopes of a given element.

We offer several elemental analysis techniques:

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a technique that can identify elements from sodium to uranium in solids, liquids, and aerosol filters. ICP-MS is a type of mass spectrometry that uses an Inductively coupled plasma to ionize the sample. It atomizes the sample and creates atomic and small polyatomic ions, which are then detected. It is known and used for its ability to detect metals and several non-metals in liquid samples at very low concentrations. It can detect different isotopes of the same element, which makes it a versatile tool in Isotopic labeling. Compared to atomic absorption spectroscopy, ICP-MS has greater speed, precision, and sensitivity.

In the pharmaceutical industry, ICP-MS is used for detecting inorganic impurities in pharmaceuticals and their ingredients. Chapter <232> Elemental Impurities - Limits; defines the maximum limits of fifteen elements in pharmaceutical products and Chapter <233> Elemental Impurities - Procedures; defines how the testing for these elements should be performed. These chapters have caused an increase in the need for ICP-MS testing. Previously, other analytic methods had been sufficient.


Target limits (J) for the fourteen elements specified in USP <232>.

Element Oral daily dose PDE* (ug/day) Target limit J(ug/g)
Cadmium 5 0.5
Lead 5 0.5
Inorganic arsenic 15 1.5
Inorganic mercury 30 3
Iridium 100 10
Osmium 100 10
Palladium 100 10
Platinum 100 10
Rhodium 100 10
Ruthenium 100 10
Chromium 1100 1100
Molybdenum 3000 300
Nickel 200 50
Vanadium 100 20
Copper 3000 300
*PDE = permitted daily exposure based on a 50 kg person
  • ICP/MS is ideal for trace element analysis for a wide range of sample types and industries
  • ICP/MS is a destructive technique
  • Also widely used in the geochemistry industry for radiometric dating, in which it is used to analyze the relative abundance of different isotopes; in particular uranium and lead.


Energy Dispersive X-ray - (EDX) is a rapid technique for identifying the elements from beryllium to uranium in solid materials. EDX uses an electron beam to stimulate the emission of characteristic x-rays of the elements from the sample surface. The elemental results are presented in an x-ray spectrum. EDX can be used to analyze localized areas or generate chemical maps. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses can be performed. (Triclinic Labs typically uses EDX for the identification of contaminants.)

EDX is very good for elemental analysis or chemical characterization of a sample with high levels of ionic elements (carbon, oxygen, copper, silver, aluminum, etc.) - including relative elemental composition information.

Downsides include:
  • Potentially destructive test because items may need to be cut for sample preparation, sputter coated, or otherwise modified before being placed in the chamber
  • Thin film materials, such as chloride and sulfate, can be volatilized under sublimation and carried away in the vacuum and subsequently not detected.


Proton Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE) is a non-destructive technique that can identify elements from sodium to uranium in solids, liquids, and aerosol filters. It uses a proton beam to excite an electron shell change to force the emission of detectable X-rays. PIXE can be used to analyze multi-element samples because each element's X-rays are characteristic of the element and do not overlap with each other.
  • High Sensitivity (detection limit ~1 ppm for thin foils and ~10 ppm for thick samples)
  • Measurement at Atmospheric Pressure Possible (by allowing the beam to exit from the beam line through a thin window, large samples may be analyzed in air).
  • Multi-element Capability (major elemental analysis is performed for any element from sodium to uranium in a single spectrum )
  • Non-destructive (minimal beam induced effects on the specimen)
  • Surface sensitive method (typical analysis depth is on the order of 1 µm)


Instrument Brand Model Notes:


Thermo


iCAP RQ ICP-MS


This innovative single quadrupole (SQ) ICP-MS is the ideal trace elemental analyzer for a wide range of sample types.

Method Development, Validaion, Release Testing.
Oxford INCA PentFEXx3 Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX)  

Elemental Analysis Service Levels Available:

Service levels