Application Finder

Iron is an essential element in human nutrition. It can be present in drinking water as a result of water treatment or from corrosion in the water piping system. There is no guideline value for iron in the World Health Organization’s «Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality» because typical levels usually found in drinking water are of no concern. However, there are national limit values in various countries. The European Union has set a guideline indicator value for iron of 200 μg/L. Voltammetry is a viable, less sophisticated alternative to atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) for the determination of iron in drinking water. While AAS (and competing methods) can only be performed in a laboratory, anodic stripping voltammetric determinations can be done used conventionally in the laboratory or alternatively in the field using the with 946 Portable VA Analyzer. The determination is carried out with adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) using 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) on the scTRACE Gold electrode.

Nickel is widely used in stainless steel production. At high enough concentrations, it is known to cause allergic reactions when in contact with skin. Drinking water may be contaminated by taps which are made from metals containing nickel. The guideline value for nickel in the World Health Organization’s «Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality» is set to 70 μg/L. National limit values of typically lower at e. g. 20 μg/L. Cobalt usually occurs associated with nickel and can be found in smaller concentrations besides nickel. Adsorptive stripping voltammetry is a viable, less sophisticated alternative to atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) for the determination of nickel and cobalt in drinking water. While AAS (and competing methods) can only be performed in a laboratory, adsorptive stripping voltammetric determinations can be used in the laboratory or alternatively in the field with the 946 Portable VA Analyzer. The determination is carried out on a bismuth film applied to the scTRACE Gold electrode.

Bismuth is considered as a metal with a very low toxicity. In high concentrations toxic effects have been described, however. There is no guideline value for bismuth in the World Health Organization’s «Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality» because typical levels usually found in drinking water are of no concern. Anodic stripping voltammetry is a viable, less sophisticated alternative to atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) for the determination of bismuth in drinking water. While AAS (and competing methods) can only be performed in a laboratory, anodic stripping voltammetry can be used in the laboratory or alternatively in the field with the 946 Portable VA Analyzer. The determination is carried out on the scTRACE Gold electrode.

Sodium pertechnetate (99mTc) radiopharmaceuticals are widely used in medical imaging diagnostic procedures to help diagnose a large number of diseases affecting the bones and major organs. These radiopharmaceuticals are usually prepared from cold kits consisting of several ingredients, including a reducing agent. Sn(II) is a typical reducing agent which reduces the Tc(VII) that is added to the cold kit to a lower oxidation state which then forms the stable organic complex.For quality control, the tin content has to be determined in the kit vial. Sn(II) can be selectively determined using differential pulse polarography. Polarography is a straightforward, sensitive, selective, and interference-free method for the determination of mg/L levels of Sn(II) in radiopharmaceuticals.

Testing of in-service lubricating oils for their remaining antioxidant content is critical for capital equipment uptime as well as reducing running costs and repair expenses. Test methodologies such as RPVOT (rotating pressure vessel oxidation test) are time consuming and expensive to perform. Remaining Useful Life is a proven voltammetric method for testing the remaining active antioxidant content in minutes. Depending on the electrolyte, aromatic amine and phenolic antioxidants or hindered phenolic antioxidants can be determined.For the first time, a fully automated system is demonstrated, showing dramatically improved repeatability of data for confidence in reporting. Operator time is saved during sample preparation and irreproducible manual interpretation is eliminated via completely autonomous software processing. The user adds the sample into the vials, then the determination process of the sample series (including sample preparation and result calculations) is carried out automatically. The system is based on methods ASTM D6810, ASTM D6971, ASTM D7527, and ASTM D7590.

To reduce the toxic effects of cadmium on the human body, as well as to limit the neurotoxic effects of lead, the provisional guideline values in the World Health Organization’s «Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality» are set to a maximum concentration of 3 µg/L for cadmium and 10 µg/L for lead. The completely mercury-free Bi drop electrode takes the next step towards converting voltammetric analysis into a non-toxic approach for heavy metal detection. Using this environmentally friendly sensor for anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) allows the simultaneous determination of Cd and Pb in drinking water. The outstanding sensitivity is more than sufficient to monitor the provisional WHO guideline values.

The presence of iron in drinking water can lead to an unpleasant taste, stains, or even growth of «iron bacteria» that can clog plumbing and cause an offensive odor. Over a longer period, the formation of insoluble iron deposits is problematic in many industrial and agricultural applications. To avoid these problems, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines the Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL) for water treatment and processing plants as 0.3 mg/L Fe in drinking water.The voltammetric determination of the iron triethanolamine complex on the non-toxic Bi drop electrode allows both the detection at very low levels (limit of detection of 0.005 mg/L) and measurements in a wide range of concentrations up to 0.5 mg/L.

The main sources of nickel pollution are electroplating, metallurgical operations, or leaching from pipes and fittings. Catalysts for the petroleum and chemical industries are major application fields for cobalt. In both cases, the metal is either released directly, or via the waste water-river pathway into the drinking water system. Therefore in the EU the legislation specifies 20 µg/L as the limit value for the Ni concentration in drinking water.The simultaneous and straightforward determination of nickel and cobalt is based on adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV). The unique properties of the non-toxic Bi drop electrode combined with AdSV results in an excellent performance in terms of sensitivity.

Due to the toxicity and the detrimental effects of nickel and cobalt on human health, their concentrations in drinking water must be controlled. Therefore, EU the legislation specifies 20 µg/L as the limit value for nickel in drinking water. The current provisional guideline value for Ni in the World Health Organization’s «Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality» is set to a maximum concentration of 70 µg/L. To monitor the concentrations of Ni and Co with the 884 Professional VA, a method for simultaneous determination on the glassy carbon electrode (GC-RDE) modified with a Bi film is used.

To reduce the toxic effects of cadmium on the kidneys, skeleton, and the respiratory system, as well as the neurotoxic effects of lead, the provisional guideline values in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) «Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality» are set to a maximum concentration of 3 µg/L for cadmium and 10 µg/L for lead.The powerful anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) technique on the ex-situ mercury film modified glassy carbon electrode is more than sufficient to monitor the proposed WHO guidelines for Cd and Pb in drinking water.

No health-based guideline value exists for zinc. However, to maintain good quality municipal drinking water, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) set a maximum concentration of 5 mg/L as the limit value. Typical concentrations in surface and ground waters are between 10–40 μg/L Zn, with values up to 1 mg/L in tap water. Anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) on the ex-situ mercury film modified glassy carbon electrode provides a less complex alternative to atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) for zinc determination in drinking water.

The guideline value for chromium in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) «Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality» is 50 µg/L. It should be noted here that chromium concentrations are often expressed as total chromium and not as chromium(III) or (VI). Chromium(VI) is responsible for changes in genetic material, and is found in significantly lower concentrations than Cr(III). Therefore an extremely sensitive method is required to monitor Cr(VI) in drinking water.The powerful adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) technique on the ex-situ mercury film modified glassy carbon electrode using DTPA as complexing agent can be used to determine such low concentrations.

Presence of thallium in surface water is an indicator of industrial effluents and poses a serious health hazard if imbibed. Monitoring of thallium concentration can easily be done with anodic stripping voltammetry on the silver film modified scTRACE Gold. This non-toxic method allows the determination of thallium concentrations between 10–250 µg/L and can be carried out with the 946 Portable VA Analyzer.

The toxicity of antimony depends on its oxidation state: antimony(III) is more toxic than antimony(V). Due to its carcinogenicity, EU legislation specifies 5 µg/L and the World Health Organization (WHO) sets a maximum concentration of 20 µg/L as the Sb(III) limit value in drinking water.Straightforward determination using anodic stripping voltammetry provides a fast (analysis time under 10 minutes) and an ultra-sensitive tool for monitoring the antimony(III) concentration in drinking water. Measurements can be performed in the laboratory with the 884 Professional VA, or alternatively in the field with the 946 Portable VA Analyzer.

The guideline value for total chromium in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) «Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality» is 50 µg/L. Chromium(VI) is more toxic than its trivalent form (Cr(III)) and is also less abundant. Therefore a robust and sensitive method is required to monitor its concentration in drinking water. The mercury film modified scTRACE Gold can be used to monitor chromium(VI), offering easy handling and a high grade of stability.

The provisional guideline values in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) «Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality» are set to 3 µg/L for cadmium and 10 µg/L for lead. The anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) technique performed on the ex-situ mercury film modified Metrohm DropSens screen-printed electrode (SPE) can be used to simultaneously detect concentrations as low as 0.3 µg/L for both elements. This is suitable to monitor the WHO guideline values. The main advantage of this method lies in the innovative and cost-effective screen-printed electrode.

EU legislation specifies 20 µg/L as the limit value for nickel in drinking water. The current provisional guideline value for Ni in the World Health Organization’s «Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality» is set to a maximum concentration of 70 µg/L. The adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) technique performed on the ex-situ bismuth film modified Metrohm DropSens 11L screen-printed electrode (SPE) can be used to simultaneously detect concentrations as low as 0.4 µg/L for nickel and 0.2 µg/L for cobalt with a 30 s deposition time.The disposable, maintenance-free sensor can be used conventionally in the laboratory with the 884 Professional VA, or alternatively in the field with the 946 Portable VA Analyzer. This method is best suited for manual systems.

The difference between the toxic and essential levels of selenium to human health are very slight. Therefore, the current provisional guideline value for selenium(IV) in the World Health Organization’s «Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality» and in the European Drinking Water Directive is set to a maximum concentration of 10 µg/L.The anodic stripping voltammetric (ASV) technique performed on the unmodified scTRACE Gold can be used to determine concentrations as low as 0.5 µg/L selenium with a 30 s deposition time. These limits can be lowered even further by increasing the deposition time. The linear range at 30 s deposition time ends at approximately 100 μg/L. The scTRACE Gold electrode does not need extensive maintenance such as mechanical polishing. Measurements can be performed in the laboratory with the 884 Professional VA or alternatively in the field with the 946 Portable VA Analyzer. This method is suited for manual or automated systems.

Tellurium is one of the elements recently identified as technologically critical for photovoltaic conversion, quantum dots, as well as in thermoelectric technology, and has the potential to become a new emergent contaminant. Until now there is no guideline value in the World Health Organization’s «Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality» and in the European Drinking Water Directive for tellurium(IV) concentration in drinking water.To monitor the tellurium(IV) levels in drinking water, anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) performed on the unmodified scTRACE Gold is recommended. This method allows determination of tellurium(IV) in the concentration range between 1 µg/L and 60 µg/L when using a 90 s deposition time. The scTRACE Gold electrode does not need extensive maintenance such as mechanical polishing. Measurements can be performed in the laboratory with the 884 Professional VA or alternatively in the field with the 946 Portable VA Analyzer.

The toxic element cadmium (Cd) can be found in elevated concentrations with high bioavailability in some soils. Under such conditions, cacao trees can accumulate cadmium in the beans, which are then processed into cocoa. Chocolate produced from the affected beans will contain elevated cadmium levels. Typical limit values in the European Union are between 100 µg/kg and 800 µg/kg (EU Commission Regulation 1881/2006) depending on the cocoa content of the chocolate.Anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) can be used to accurately determine trace quantities of cadmium in chocolate down to approximately 10 µg/kg. The method is simple to perform, specific, and free of interferences. Prior to determination the samples are ashed in a furnace at 450 °C.

Monitoring Sb(III) stabilizer levels during electroless Ni plating is critical for high-quality coatings. Anodic stripping voltammetry offers fast, reliable Sb(III) analysis.

Electroless nickel plating ensures low-cost wear and corrosion resistance. Monitoring lead stabilizer levels in Ni plating baths is possible with the Bi drop electrode.

Electroless Ni plating offers superior surface finish and corrosion resistance. Anodic stripping voltammetry allows Bi stabilizer to be monitored in Ni plating baths.

Lithium iron phosphate batteries offer users safety and durability. Polarographic speciation evaluates Fe(II) and Fe(III) in cathode material, useful for several tests.

Accurate iodine determination in thyroid tablets, ensuring treatment efficacy, is achieved using the 884 Professional VA and Multi-Mode Electrode pro per USP guidelines.

Portable Raman is used to characterize the quality of diamond foils made by CVD processes.

Raman spectroscopy at 532 nm excitation is used to study the crystalline and amorphous content of mixed phase silicon films.

The NanoRam handheld Raman, with a TE-cooled spectrometer, and patented CleanLaze technology packaged in a small, touch-screen operating unit, delivers high quality raw material testing capabilities for pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Raman spectroscopy is a quick nondestructive method for the direct identification of plastics. It can also be used for the analysis of flame retardants, lubricants and other additives. Coupled with chemometric software, quantitative and advanced qualitative analyses can be performed.

The NanoRam is a state-of-the-art, handheld Raman spectrometer for the rapid identification of chemicals used in the pharmaceutical manufacturing process. It has been specifically designed for these applications and is fully compliant with all the major global regulatory, safety, and commercial testing agencies applicable to the pharmaceutical industry.

The raw materials whey, sorbitol, stearic acid, and calcium phosphate dihydrate dibasic all show very distinctive, unique Raman signatures, which indicates that Raman spectroscopy is the ideal technology for identification of these materials. The PCA model-based method provides reliable specificity to successfully identify these nondestructively in plastc samples bags using the NanoRam.

The fundamentals of Raman instrumentation and spectroscopy are presented along with common applications of Raman.

The principles and benefits of Raman are presented in terms of advances that make handheld Raman an integral tool for pharmaceutical manufacturers to comply with incoming material testing requirements. Examples of the NanoRam for positive identification of excipients including celluloses and sugars illustrate the selectivity of Raman.

Raman spectroscopy and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are proving to be invaluable tools in the field of biomedical research and clinical diagnostics. Raman systems are also being developed for molecular diagnostic testing to detect and measure human cancer biomarkers. This review highlights two applications realting to breast cancer and pancreatic cancer diagnosis together with examples of the use of Raman spectrometry in biomedical research areas such as the identification of bacterial infections, showing that Raman is an important part of the medical toolbox, as we continually strive to improve diagnostic techniques and bring a better health care system to patients.

Today's Raman instrumentation is faster, more rugged, and less expensive than in the past and the advances in component miniaturization have led to the design of portable devices with extremely high performance designed for field-based investigations. This study focuses on the use of handheld Raman spectroscopy for the characterization and identification of samples encountered in various application areas related to forensic science.

Raman spectroscopy is a valuable tool to provide rapid, specific analysis for identification of raw materials, thus reducing the risk of using substandard or incorrect materials in manufacturing. The utility of handheld Raman increases productivity, and the ability to do full testing without creating bottlenecks in the production process. The integration of the Raman data into a company’s data management system provides a secure means of handling data and results, with reduced risk of transcription errors, and data loss.

Small, fast high-performance Raman spectrometers are now readily available. Three real-life Raman quantitative and semi-quantitative analysis applications are discussed. These applications showcase the versatility of Raman spectroscopy and the potential impact that it can make in various industries such as security, pharmaceutical, and plastics and polymers.

Raman spectroscopy is a well suited spectroscopic technique for process development and control within development laboratories in chemical, pharmaceutical, and other industries. This article demonstrates the utility of portable Raman spectroscopy as a simple and versatile tool for in situ monitoring of reactions using univariate analysis techniques such as peak trending, as well as multivariate analysis approaches to predict the end point of chemical reactions.

Patented STRaman technology is a new Raman technique that can identify chemical species nondestructively beneath diffusely scattering packaging material such as plastics or tablet coatings.

Content uniformity of solid dosage forms can be done nondestructively at the process line using the QTRam portable transmission Raman system.

Allowing non-destructive chemical identification through opaque materials, award-winning STRam represents an evolution in Raman technology.

Improve petrochemical quality control with NIRS. Fast, cost-effective, and no sample prep needed. Learn more in our eBook.

Enhance quality control in material and chemical production with NIRS. Fast, cost-effective, and no sample prep needed. Learn more in our eBook.

Efficiently analyze food products with ion chromatography (IC). Discover its robust applications in quality control for beverages, food additives, and dairy.

This e-book explains how Raman and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy enable rapid, nondestructive polymer analysis, ensuring high quality while reducing costs and waste.

This article describes rapid and sensitive bromate determination in drinking and table water by means of anion chromatography with post-column derivatization and subsequent spectrophotometric detection.

This article describes the fully automated ion chromatography determination of chloride, phosphate and sulfate in an ultraheat-treated (UHT) milk sample and baby milk powder dissolved in water by means of the 881 Compact IC pro ion chromatograph and the upstream Metrohm dialysis cell.

The combination of ion chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (IC-ICP/MS) is ideally suited for the detection of species of arsenic and mercury in their various oxidation levels and forms of chemical bonding. However, some species – as in the case of mercury – are reciprocally converted into one another during sample preparation, thus making a determination of the initial concentrations of the heavy metal species impossible. This article shows how these interconversions can be calculated with isotope dilution analysis and IC-ICP/MS in accordance with EPA method 6800.

This article describes an ion chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of HF, HNO3, H2SO4, short-chain organic acids, and of H2SiF6 in acid texturing baths.

This article describes the coupling of ion chromatography with mass spectrometry (IC-MS) and plasma mass spectrometry (IC-ICP/MS) for the trace analysis of potentially hazardous compounds in the environment.