Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry has become an important tool in environmental testing, food safety, forensics, homeland security, and semiconductor manufacturing
Agilent Technologies reports that it has shipped more than one thousand 7500 series inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) systems since the instrument's introduction in 2000.
Because of its speed and sensitivity, ICP-MS has become an important tool in environmental testing, food safety, forensics, homeland security, and semiconductor manufacturing.
"We estimate that the Agilent 7500 series is the fastest-selling, most popular ICP-MS system ever," said Mike McMullen, vice president and general manager of Agilent's chemical analysis solutions business.
An ICP-MS system identifies and quantifies the fundamental components of an analysed sample.
It can detect these elements at extremely low levels, as low as one part per trillion, which allows scientists to determine a sample's exact elemental composition.
Agilent has been a leader in the development of ICP-MS technology since entering the market more than two decades ago.
Agilent ICP-MS innovations include the first benchtop ICP-MS.
The Agilent 4500 series, the predecessor to the 7500, was the first commercial benchtop ICP-MS system.
At one-third the size of a traditional ICP-MS system, it provided the same capabilities while saving valuable lab space.
Cool plasma analysis.
This technique eliminates the interference problems associated with analysing certain elements in semiconductor samples.
It has been adopted by the semiconductor industry as the standard technique for ultra-trace analysis.
Octopole reaction system.
Agilent's collision/reaction cell technology eliminates polyatomic interferences arising from the plasma and sample matrix, enabling accurate measurement in complex samples.
These innovations have increased the productivity, sensitivity and versatility of the ICP-MS, which has helped it to replace older, less efficient technology such as inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy, graphite furnace atomic absorption systems, and other elemental analysers.
To match users' application requirements, Agilent offers three versions of its 7500 series platform:.
The 7500a is a full-featured, high-performance benchtop instrument for routine determination of metals in a wide variety of sample types.
The 7500cs is designed for semiconductor applications.
It provides the widest elemental coverage and extremely high sensitivity to detect ultra-trace contaminants in high-purity samples.
The 7500ce is Agilent's newest ICP-MS system.
It is designed for environmental applications, specifically for easy, accurate analysis of complex sample matrices such as waste water and soil digests.
The 7500 series can be configured or upgraded with optional components that increase user productivity or expand its applicability.
These components include sampling peripherals for automated sample introduction and higher throughput; laser ablation systems for direct analysis of solid samples; and interface kits for integration with Agilent's liquid chromatography or gas chromatography systems.
