Atomic spectrometry update - Industrial analysis: metals, chemicals and advanced materials

This Atomic Spectrometry Update is the latest in an annual series appearing under the title 'Industrial Analysis'. The overall structure of the review is broadly the same as last year's. However, small variations have appeared due to the nature of the information provided to reviewers and to changes in the reviewing team. The popularity of ETV-ICP-MS and ETV-ICP-AES techniques for the analysis of industrial materials seems unabated. Throughout this year's review, across all the types of materials, the use of these methods, especially with the refinement of slurry sampling, have shown an increase in usage. This is somewhat surprising as there are not many fully automated commercial instruments available. Obviously, this type of sample introduction method must give real benefits. The increases in instrument sensitivity, especially with the introduction of magnetic sector ICP-MS and ultrasonic nebulization, has found some niche markets. This is true in the analysis of radionuclides, where analyte levels are extremely low and where low sample loadings are important. The semiconductor industry is also a large sector where the ultimate in sensitivity is required. However, issues such as blank levels, purity of acids and calibration problems at sub-ppt ranges still require some attention. In the area of solid sampling, innovations continue to be reported. For metals, glow discharge, spark emission, spark ablation and laser ablation continue to be the method of choice. However, in other areas laser ablation seems to be the most popular method for solid sampling. Questions as to quantification using laser ablation sample introduction methods are being answered. Dual systems using aqueous standards have been reported and work is progressing in all areas on the introduction of solid calibrants and CRMs, although progress is slow. Microwave digestion methods continue to invade sample preparation research. The latest systems have higher power ranges, individual temperature and pressure control features and are, in general, becoming much more flexible. They are being used to reduce tedious sample preparation methods which can take several days, for complex matrices, to a few hours. They are also being used as alternatives for conventional ashing and air refluxing methods. This time advantage is further being enhanced with the development of how injection microwave digestion strategies lasting only a few minutes.