Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry: What Factors Are Driving Its Application Landscape?

Listicle

Published: November 2, 2022

Robert Thomas

Blue molecules connect in a diagonal line from top left to bottom right.

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is undoubtedly the fastest-growing trace element technique available today. Only a handful of instruments were sold when it was commercialized in 1983. But today the annual worldwide market size exceeds 2,000 systems, used for many varied and diverse applications.

Even though it can broadly determine the same suite of elements as other atomic spectroscopic techniques, ICP-MS has clear advantages in its multielement characteristics, speed of analysis, detection limits and isotopic capability.

Download this listicle to learn more about:

ICP-MS principles of operation
The components of an ICP mass spectrometer
Applications of ICP-MS

Meet the Author

Robert Thomas

Principle Scientist

Rob Thomas is the principal scientist at Scientific Solutions, a consulting company that serves the educational needs of the trace element user community.