A R T I C L E ATOMIC SPECTROSCOPY -...
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ARTICLE ATOMIC SPECTROSCOPY PERKINELMER AND SEVERN TRENT LABORATORIES PARTNER TO OPTIMIZE FAST ICP METHOD Background. Since 2001, Severn Trent Laboratories (STL) Bridgend facility has performed all of their potable (drinking) water analysis, including a suite of 32 metals using ICP-MS technology. Up to 4 instruments operate overnight, providing results for 200 samples per instrument, ranging from sub μ g/l level for trace elements such as lead, arsenic and cadmium to hundreds of mg/L for calcium and magnesium. In 2008, STL identified that splitting the analysis of these samples into an ICP-MS suite for low level work and an ICP-OES suite for elements with higher concentrations would significantly improve the productivity in this area of their business. Collaboration PerkinElmer has been supplying ICP-OES instruments to STL for more than 15 years, with five currently in use at their soils laboratory in Coventry. Benefits of PerkinElmer ICP-OES include high sample throughput, wide concentration range coverage, freedom from interferences, and the inherent robust nature of the technique, all supported by dedicated technical and service teams. Consequently, STL contacted PerkinElmer to see whether the new potable water metals suite could be analyzed using PerkinElmer Optima ICP-OES systems. Debbie Hoult, ICP Applictions Specialist at PerkinElmer, worked with Phil Clark, STL Principal Scientist, to develop a method than met STL’s requirements. Special emphasis was placed on reducing the speed of analysis, while complying with all United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS), Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) and customer requirements. PerkinElmer’s new FAST Optima ICP-OES System PerkinElmer’s new FAST Optima System is one of the fastest ICP systems on the market. This speed is achieved through fast electronics on the spectrometer coupled with a high-speed optical system, an injection valve, and a high-speed rinse option on the autosampler. Wash-in/wash-out times are reduced dramatically improving sample turnaround by up to 5 times. In addition to speed, the other benefit of this system is that the sample no longer comes into contact with peristaltic pump tubing and hence potential cross contamination is vastly reduced when compared with a “conventional” system.
Transcript of A R T I C L E ATOMIC SPECTROSCOPY -...
A R T I C L E
ATOMIC SPECTROSCOPY
PERKINELMER AND SEVERN TRENT LABORATORIES PARTNER TO OPTIMIZE FAST ICP METHOD �
Background.
Since 2001, Severn Trent Laboratories (STL) Bridgend facility has performed all of their potable (drinking) water analysis, including a suite of 32
metals using ICP-MS technology. Up to 4 instruments operate overnight, providing results for 200 samples per instrument, ranging from sub µ g/l
level for trace elements such as lead, arsenic and cadmium to hundreds of mg/L for calcium and magnesium. In 2008, STL identified that splitting the
analysis of these samples into an ICP-MS suite for low level work and an ICP-OES suite for elements with higher concentrations would significantly
improve the productivity in this area of their business.
Collaboration
PerkinElmer has been supplying ICP-OES instruments to STL for more than 15 years, with
five currently in use at their soils laboratory in Coventry. Benefits of PerkinElmer ICP-OES
include high sample throughput, wide concentration range coverage, freedom from
interferences, and the inherent robust nature of the technique, all supported by dedicated
technical and service teams. Consequently, STL contacted PerkinElmer to see whether the
new potable water metals suite could be analyzed using PerkinElmer Optima� ICP-OES
systems. Debbie Hoult, ICP Applictions Specialist at PerkinElmer, worked with Phil Clark,
STL Principal Scientist, to develop a method than met STL’s requirements. Special emphasis
was placed on reducing the speed of analysis, while complying with all United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS), Drinking Water Inspectorate
(DWI) and customer requirements.
PerkinElmer’s new FAST Optima� ICP-OES System
PerkinElmer’s new FAST Optima� System is one of the fastest ICP systems on the
market. This speed is achieved through fast electronics on the spectrometer coupled with a
high-speed optical system, an injection valve, and a high-speed rinse option on the
autosampler. Wash-in/wash-out times are reduced dramatically improving sample
turnaround by up to 5 times. In addition to speed, the other benefit of this system is that the
sample no longer comes into contact with peristaltic pump tubing and hence potential cross
contamination is vastly reduced when compared with a “conventional” system.
A R T I C L E
Results
Overall, these advantages combine to produce a powerful package. In the same time period,
a single Optima� ICP-OES instrument running STL’s new method can analyse up to three
times more samples than the ICP-MS instruments. This has significantly increased the
capacity of the Bridgend Laboratory to meet both current and future needs.
STL Principal Scientist Phil Clark says …
“When PerkinElmer told me how good their new FAST Optima was I needed some
convincing, but the results speak for themselves. By working directly with PerkinElmer, two
instruments were delivered, commissioned, and performance tested in just 2 months. We
now have the benefits of a 100% increase in capacity, with methods that use fewer
chemicals, require less energy and produce less waste.”
PerkinElmer design, manufacture and service leading scientific solutions for health, product safety and environmental quality needs.
For more information on PerkinElmer products and applications please contact [email protected] or visit www.perkinelmer.co.uk
Severn Trent Laboratories, part of Severn Trent Services and member of Severn Trent Group of companies, offers leading solutions in water, land and waste
analysis throughout the UK, providing scientific services in chemistry, microbiology and ecotoxicity.
For further information on our services please contact [email protected]
PerkinElmer, Inc. 940 Winter Street Waltham, MA 02451 USA Phone: (800) 762-4000 or (+1) 203-925-4602 www.perkinelmer.com
For a complete listing of our global offices, visit www.perkinelmer.com/lasoffices ©2008 PerkinElmer, Inc. All rights reserved. The PerkinElmer logo and design are registered trademarks of PerkinElmer, Inc. All other trademarks not owned by PerkinElmer, Inc. or its subsidiaries that are depicted herein are the property of their respective owners. PerkinElmer reserves the right to change this document at any time without notice and disclaims liability for editorial, pictorial or typographical errors.
