LMS Volume 33 |ssue 4 | Page 46

46  LMS  Issue 4 | 2014 Product Review Speciation Analysis Solves Problems W ith the incorporation of Thermo ICP/ICPMS/AAS and Dionex ion chromatography (IC) instruments, Anatech are able to solve the most complex problems. This is a solution for the speciation of toxic versus non-toxic metals. The need to distinguish between chemical forms of elements has become critical for food, environmental and pharmaceutical analysis. Previously, measuring the total amount of an element was sufficient. However, different forms of an element can exhibit distinct levels of toxicity. Separation and quantification of different oxidation states of an element (speciation analysis) can be utilised to determine an element’s chemical form. Speciation analysis can be split into separation of individual ionic species by IC and trace elemental detection and quantification using IC – inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy ICP/MS. Using ICP/MS with a selective separation technique such as IC provides complete information on an element’s chemical form. Ion chromatography For ion a na ly sis, t he T her mo Scientific™ Dionex™ IC solutions deliver uniquely beneficial technology, namely Reagent-Free™ IC (RFIC™) systems. These systems use electrolytic technologies to generate eluents and regenerants from de-ionised water, which decreases time spent on equilibration, calibration and method verification. Minimising the unintentional variations in the preparation of eluents and regenerants discards the need for required consistence checks. Elements currently speciated using IC and ICP/MS Arsenic As+3, As+5 Chromium Cr , Cr Mercury Hg , EtHg , and MeHg Selenium Se+4, Se+6 S +3 +6 +2 + + Get Skinny Sections truers offer a wide range of equipment and consumables designed for the preparation of mineralogical samples. Expanding their offering, they would like to introduce the new SystemAbele. This instrument consists of a unique set of accessories developed specifically to make the preparation of thin sections faster and easier. For mounting of rock samples there is the new Struers EpoSpeed UV bonding resin, which cures in a mat ter of minutes compared to the usual hours taken in the traditional epoxy resins. A new bonding jig is also available, which applies pressure to the samples while the resin cures ensuring that a perfect bond is achieved. Grinding and polishing of thin sections can be carried out manually with precise material removal and with very little user training, which saves time