ICP-OES analysis

What is ICP-OES used for?

ICP-OES is used across a range of industries and research areas. It is often applied in the petrochemical industry to analyze various types of oil samples and determine their elemental composition, which can be used as a quality indicator. The method is also used to screen food and water to ensure they are free from toxic metals and other unwanted compounds. 

In the analysis of environmental samples, such as water, soil, or sediment, ICP-OES is used to monitor pollution and determine the quality of natural environments. The technique can also be used in the pharmaceutical industry for quality control to ensure that products or raw materials do not contain metallic impurities.

How does ICP-OES work?

ICP-OES analysis begins by creating a plasma; a high-energy form of a gas, such as argon, which has been excited with electromagnetic radiation. A sample, in the form of an aerosol, is then passed through the plasma, causing it to be broken down into its individual atoms. The atoms interact with the plasma, causing them to emit various wavelengths of light. These wavelengths are separated and detected by the spectrometer, which records the data. 

The specific wavelengths that are detected with the ICP-OES apparatus correspond to specific elements within the sample and, by analyzing the amount of each wavelength present, it is possible to determine the concentration of each element. This can then be used to determine the overall elemental composition of the sample.

Sample requirements and preparation

Samples to be analyzed with ICP-OES must be in an easily vaporizable form so that they can interact with the plasma. Analysis of liquids and solutions is most straightforward, as they can be passed through a diffuser that sprays them as an aerosol.

Solid samples will either need to be dissolved into a solution or, if this is not possible, vaporized through other means, such as electrothermal or laser ablation. This breaks down the solid sample into a vapor that can then be analyzed.

Advantages and limitations of ICP-OES analysis

The main advantage of ICP-OES is its versatility. The technique can detect and quantify a wide range of elements, giving it boundless potential applications. It can even detect a variety of non-metals, which is a limitation of other similar techniques, including AAS and AFS. In addition, ICP-OES can be used to identify multiple elements simultaneously. This is another major advantage compared to AAS and AFS, both of which can only detect one element at a time.

ICP-OES samples are atomized by plasma and destroyed, which means they cannot be recovered post-analysis. The detection limit for ICP-OES is not as low as some comparable techniques, most notably ICP-MS, meaning that it may not be able to detect certain elements in particularly low concentrations. Furthermore, some specific elements, such as O, N, and H, are very difficult to detect with ICP-OES, which can lead to incomplete results in their presence.

ICP-OES vs ICP-AES – is there a difference?

Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) is another term used to refer to ICP-OES. Therefore, there is no difference, and the two terms are often used interchangeably to describe the same analytical technique.

Need an analysis?

Measurlabs offers elemental analysis services with multiple techniques, including ICP-OES. You can read more about the comparative advantages of different techniques in our elemental analysis method comparison article.

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