Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES)

ICP-OES is a powerful analytical technique that provides fast and accurate determination of multiple elements in a wide range of samples.

Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) is a type of emission spectroscopy that is primarily used for the detection of chemical elements. The ICP-OES process works by exposing each element to high energy, leading to an emission of light at a characteristic wavelength. Each spectrum represents a different element, thereby allowing scientists to determine a sample's elemental composition. Its major advantage over other techniques is its capability to detect several elements simultaneously with high sensitivity and precision. It is particularly effective for analyzing samples in the field of environmental testing, metallurgy, petroleum products, food and beverage quality, and the pharmaceutical industry.

Fig. 1. Image of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry instrument.

Characteristics of ICP-OES

In addition to high sensitivity and precision, ICP-OES also has the following notable features.

Wide dynamic range: It allows for analysis of lithium (atomic number 3) to uranium (atomic number 92) elements, except gases, halogens, low levels of phosphorous and sulfur.
High Throughput: It produces faster results and can handle a significant number of samples in a short time.
Minimal sample preparation: ICP-OES requires minimal sample preparation, only 250 mg to 1 gram for solid sample.
Non-destructive analysis: It allows for the analysis of samples without altering their composition.
Low detection limits: It can achieve low detection limits of parts per billion in solution, making it suitable for trace analysis applications.
Versatility: It can analyze a vast range of sample types, including powders, solids, liquids and suspensions samples.

What is ICP-OES Used For?

ICP-OES is a powerful analytical technique used for the detection and quantification of elements (including alkali and alkaline earth metals, transition metals, heavy metals, metalloids, rare earth elements, non-metals) in a wide range of sample types. There are ample instances where it is used, including:

Environmental analysis: It is widely used for the analysis of soil, water, and air samples for the presence of elements like heavy metals, nutrients, and pollutants.
Pharmaceutical analysis: It is used for the analysis of APIs, excipients, and drug formulations to ensure quality and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Food and beverage analysis: It is utilized for the analysis of food and beverage samples for the presence of trace elements, contaminants, and nutritional composition.
Geology and mining: It is used for the analysis of rocks, minerals, and ores samples to determine elemental composition.
Petrochemical analysis: It is employed for the analysis of petroleum products, fuels, and lubricants for the detection of trace elements and impurities.
Clinical and biological research: It is used for the analysis of biological samples such as blood, urine, tissues, and cells for the presence of essential and toxic elements for clinical diagnosis and research purposes.
Material testing and quality control: It is used for the analysis of metals, alloys, ceramics, polymer and other materials for quality control, material testing, and product development purposes.

Application of ICP-OES in Deformulation

In the realm of deformulation, or reverse engineering of a product formulation, ICP-OES can prove extremely valuable. For example:

It can accurately determine the elemental composition of a sample, allowing for the identification of key ingredients in a product formulation.
It is highly sensitive and can detect and quantify minor and trace elements present in a sample, even at very low concentrations. This is useful for quantifying impurities or additives in a product and is crucial in deformulation to understand the complete composition of a product.

This information becomes especially critical when trying to replicate an existing formulation, analyze competitors' products, or to improve upon existing products.

Nowadays, ICP-OES has been used to deformulate products in industries like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food and beverage, metallic coatings, pigments, ceramics, polymers, metal and alloys, consumer goods and other materials.

How We Can Help You?

As a company specializing in analytical services, especially in deformulation analysis, Alfa Chemistry offers a comprehensive suite of solutions, with ICP-OES being a crucial component. By deploying our advanced ICP-OES analysis, we can identify and quantify major, minor and trace elements to aid your reverse engineering process, whether you're working in the cosmetics, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, or manufacturing industry, or you're on the cusp of a significant discovery or looking to verify the quality of a product. Our cutting-edge laboratory equipment and rigorous method development enable us to deliver quick and reliable results. Additionally, our team can offer guidance and support in interpreting the data and in using these insights to enhance your products or services.

Please kindly note that our products and services are for research use only.