Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry enables rapid and sensitive multi-element analysis over a wide range of concentrations and elements, ranging from metals to non-metallic elements.
Specific Equipment and Analyses
ICP-OES (Avio® 200 and Optima 7000 DV)
Flame and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAnalyst 400 and AAnalyst 700)
For single-element analysis, our instruments can operate in flame mode, or, when analyses require greater sensitivity, in graphite furnace mode or hydride generation mode.
Ion Chromatography (792 Basic IC and 761 Compact IC)
Ion chromatography is an analytical technique used to separate, identify, and quantify inorganic ions present in a sample. Thanks to the use of a column containing an ion-exchange resin, the instrument allows us, for example, to monitor the concentrations of fluoride, chloride, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, and sulfate ions in water in a single run. Certain organic ions (acetate, formate, oxalate, etc.) can also be detected by this instrument.
GC-MS (Agilent 7820A+5975E MSD)
This instrument combines gas chromatography (GC) with mass spectrometry (MS) used as a detector. It allows not only the separation and quantification of organic constituents (volatile or volatilizable) in samples but also their precise identification. Indeed, the mass spectrometer can ionize and fragment molecules in a characteristic way, like a fingerprint. The pattern left by the various fragments can then be compared to those present in a database, allowing for reliable identification of the compound.
Automatic Titrators (Metrohm Titrando, Titroprocessor, Titrotherm)
The laboratory is equipped with several automatic titrators that allow for the measurement of conductivity as well as the determination of certain compounds based on acid-base, redox, and precipitation reactions. The determination of the water content of a matrix by the Karl-Fischer method is an example of this.
Mineralization and Calcination
For sample preparation before analysis, we have various ovens: muffle furnaces for calcinations up to over 1000°C (useful, for example, for ash determination requiring heating at 800°C), as well as pressurized microwave ovens for either acid mineralizations and total sample digestion or for extractions using organic solvents.
Fluorimeter (Varian Cary Eclipse)
The spectrofluorimeter is a powerful tool for studying the fluorescence emitted by certain substances (identification, quantification, kinetics). It complements molecular absorption due to its specificity (only certain molecules have fluorescent properties) and its greater sensitivity.
UV-Visible Molecular Spectrometer (PE Lambda 2 and ThermoFischer Genesys 10s and 180)
Used in various fields (pharmacy, food, environment, etc.), this type of instrument allows for both the characterization of compounds, their quantification, and the monitoring of certain reaction kinetics.