Inductively coupled plasma Optical emission spectroscopy system (ICP-OES) is an emission spectrophotometric technique, exploiting the fact that excited electrons emit energy at a given wavelength (based on their atomic character) as they return to ground state after excitation by high temperature argon plasma. This analytical technique is used for the detection of trace metals.
Make
SPECTRO Analytical Instruments GmbH, Germany
Model
FHM 32 ARCOS III
Facility Status
Working
Date of Installation
Facility Management Division
Centre for Sophisticated Research Facilities (CSIF- IoE Funded*)

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Category

  • Spectroscopy and Spectrometry ยป Atomic Emission Spectroscopy

Booking Details

Booking available for
Internal and External Both
Available Equipment/ Mode of use
Qualitative & Quantitative Analysis

Facility Management Team and Location

Faculty In Charge
Prof. Anindya Datta
Email : head.csif@iitb.ac.in
Facility Manager
Dr. Gajender Saini, gsaini@iitb.ac.in,02221596481
Facility Operator
Mrs. Priyanka Jain, priyankaj@iitb.ac.in, 022-221593154
Mrs. Reshma Kadam, reshmas@iitb.ac.in, 022-221593154
Facility Management Members
Prof. Suparna Mukherji
Prof. Rajdip Bandyopadhyaya
Prof. Harish Phuleria
Prof. Vikram Vishal
Prof Arnab Dutta
Department
CRNTS
Lab Email ID
icpoes@ircc.iitb.ac.in
Facility Location
Room No. 211, First Floor, SAIF/CRNTS Building
Lab Phone No
022-221593154

Facility Features, Working Principle and Specifications

Features Working Principle

Working Principle:

  • Atomic emission Spectroscopy uses quantitative measurement of the optical emission from Excited atom to determine analyte concentration.
  • Exploiting the fact that excited electrons emit energy at a given wavelength (based on their atomic character) as they return to ground state after excitation by high temperature argon plasma. 
  • This analytical technique is used for the detection of trace metals

Features : 

  • Plasma: Radial or axial observation of inductively coupled plasma
  •  Spectrometer:  Optical instrument in Paschen-Runge mounting enables simultaneous record of the spectrum in the wavelength range of 130 to 770 nm 
  • The spectrometer is equipped with a robust generator operating in the power range of 500 - 2000 W
  •  Detector: Line-array detectors, based on complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology
  • Nebulizers: Concentric, cross flow, HF resistance cyclonic SOP
  • Dual side-on interface (DSOI: Provides twice the sensitivity of conventional radial systems

 

Instructions for Registration, Sample Preparation, User Instructions and Precautionary Measures

Instructions for Registration

Online interface for external and internal users is available. Payment is online. User charges are available on website www.saif.iitb.ac.in. Charging is done on the basis of preparation (solid samples), number of elements and number of samples.

Instruction for Sample Preparation

1.Rocks, soils, ores and sediments can be processed using any one of the following procedures depending upon the requirements of the users and available facilities. a) Lithium Metaborate Fusion : 0.2 gm of sample and 0.6 gm lithium metaborate taken in a platinum crucible are heated on a burner till the mixture in the crucible turns into a glassy mass. The crucible is then placed in 30% nitric acid solution and stirred till all the glassy mass dissolves (usually two hours). The solution is then diluted to standard volume with distilled water. b) Hydrofluoric Acid Method : 0.5 gm of the sample is taken in a Teflon beaker and 10 ml nitric acid or perchloric acid and 5 ml Hydrofluoric acid are added to it. The solution is heated on a hot plate to dryness. 10 ml of aqua-regia is added to the dry mass and heated till everything dissolves. The solution is diluted to standard volume, 100 ml, with distilled water. Estimation of Silicon is not possible as silica is lost to the atmosphere as silicon tetrafluoride.

2. Analysis of air samples can be done and the process of sample preparation is as follows: Air is drawn in at a constant rate through a filter (usually made of cellulose ester or glass fiber). The filter is then digested by following methods: a) For cellulose ester filter - A weighed filter paper is taken in a beaker, 10 ml nitric acid added and heated on a hot plate. While still hot, perchloric acid is added dropwise till the organic matter is destroyed. The sample is concentrated by further heating and solution diluted with distilled water. b) For glass fibre filters - A weighed filter is taken in a teflon beaker, 5 ml of HF and 10 ml nitric acid added and heated on a hot plate. A few drops of perchloric acid are added and the solution concentrated to dryness. The residue is dissolved in 10 ml of nitric acid and diluted with distilled water. 

3. Water samples can be analysed as such for elements like Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn, Na, K. But other minor elements need concentration. 500 ml of solution is concentrated to 50 ml with warming at 90o C. Volatile elements like mercury may get lost at higher temperature.

 4. Organic samples (Blood Urine, Polymer etc.) : 10 ml of sample in 10 ml of nitric acid is heated on a hot plate and hot perchloric acid is added dropwise till all the organic matter is destroyed and solution becomes clear. Dilution is done with distilled water to desired volume.

 5. Samples of metals and alloys can be digested using only nitric acid or hydrochloric acid or the combination of the two (aqua-regia). Crystalline samples that are water soluble can be submitted in their water dissolved form. Organic solvents cannot be accepted, because plasma cannot be sustained in presence of organic solvent. Hence the organic solvent has to be either volatilised or destroyed.

 6. A minimum of 25 ml of solution is required for estimation of all elements.
 

User Instructions and Precautionary Measures

1.Preferably sample should be submitted in solution form specifying the elements to be estimated and their approximate concentrations expected.

2.Generally 10 ml of solution is sufficient for estimation of about 10 to 15 elements

3.For special samples like rocks / ore samples, appropriate standards along with the samples should be submitted by user.

4.Explosive, poisonous samples and samples giving rise to toxic gases/fumes cannot be undertaken for ICP-OES analysis.

5.There is no upper limit for the number of samples acceptable for ICP-OES laboratory.

6.The nebulizer of the instrument is made out of glass material, hence samples should not have HF in the solution. Excess HF should be evaporated completely or may be neutralised using Boric Acid.

7.For estimation of silica in rock sample following method of solution preparation is generally used:

       (a) 0.5 gram of rock powder + 1.5 gram of Lithium Meta-Borate is fused in a platinum crucible. After the fusion is complete the crucible is kept on a magnetic stirrer with 30% HNO3 in it, till the whole thing goes in solution. Same method should be followed for preparation of standard solutions.

       (b) 0.5 gram of rock sample + HF + HNO3 is heated slowly in a teflon beaker. On digestion evaporate HF (in which case SiO2 may be lost) or neutralise HF with Boric acid.

       (c) For some of the rocks HClO4 and HNO3 mixture can be used along with HF. One should remember that same method should be used for preparation of standard as well as blank.

 Turbid solutions and highly viscous samples will not be entertained.

8.For biological samples organic matter should be destroyed using any of the following methods of solution preparation :

       (a) A known quantity of sample is put in a Quartz/silica crucible and kept in an incinerator at 800o to 900oC. The ash is then dissolved in aqua-regia and diluted to a known volume using distilled water.

       (b) A known quantity of sample is taken in a beaker, HNO3 added to it and heated. When it starts boiling HClO4 is added to it drop-wise and heating continued till all the organic matter is destroyed. The solution is then diluted to a know volume with distilled water.

9.Blank solution for each batch/set of samples should be provided.

Charges for Analytical Services in Different Categories

Applications

  1. Precious metal estimation at low level

  2. Heavy metal estimation at sub ppm level

  3. Rock, Soil, Fly ash (Complete analysis)

  4. Environmental sample analysis (Air, Water, Soil, sediments, etc.)

  5. Biological samples (Urine, tooth, bone, etc.)

  6. Polymer industries

  7. Pharmaceutical industries

Sample Details

Chemical allowed
  • HNO3
  • HCl
  • HF
  • H2SO4
  • H2O2
  • HClO4
Allowed Substrate

N.A

Gases allowed

N.A

Substrate Dimension

N.A

Target dimension

...

Contamination remarks

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Precursors/ Targets allowed

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SOP, Lab Policies and Other Details

Publications