ICP-MS - Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. By now the accepted method of choice for low level elemental analysis and since it has a mass spectrometer it offers the possibility for isotopic analysis. JCS has very wide experience of both quadrupole and magnetic sector (HiRes) analysers. When coupled to HiRes sector the product of choice is the Nu AttoM and when this instrument is equipped with up to 16 Faraday collectors you have the ultimate in high precision isotope ratio analysis MC-ICP-MS Nu Plasma NPII

IRMS – isotope ratio MS – this is the acronym used to describe the type of instrument used to measure the isotope ratios of carbon-13, oxygen-16, nitrogen-15, deuterium etc etc. The sample that is actually measured in the mass spectrometer is a gas such as carbon dioxide, however the original sample can be wide and varied such as carbonates, water, foraminifera, soil, silicates, foods........JCS has worked in the field of IRMS in India for more than eight years and has installed and serviced such instruments at NIO, NCAOR, NIH, ONGC, NGRI, BARC, and others. These days we would offer the Nu Horizon and Nu Perspective depending on the application required.

TIMS – Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometry, the ultimate in precision and accuracy for isotope ration measurement in Geochemistry and Nuclear Science, TIMS remains the gold standard, although MC-ICP-MS now comes a very close second and of course offers more elements.

GDMS – Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry – without dispute this is the method of choice for ultimate detection power when analysing ultra-pure (eg semiconductor grade) solids.  The product from the Nu range is the Astrum – capable of direct quantification of sub-ppb levels of impurities directly in a solid sample.

ETV – ElectroThermal Vaporisation – This is not an analytical technique in itself but a way of introducing a sample into a spectrometer which can be ICP-MS or ICP-OES.  The ETV has been adapted from its use in atomic absorption and can now be supplied as a means of sample vaporisation so that a wide range of samples from biological to industrial ceramics can be sampled directly without dissolution or pretreatment. Please check our link to Spectral Systems for more details.

DC-arc emission – Direct Current arc emission. This technique is ideally suited to refractory samples such as silica, BN, TiN, SiC etc etc.....samples that you would not want to dissolve. These can be weighed directly into a graphite electrode which is then struck with high current and the resulting emission is measured using an OES instrument (emission spectrometer or spectrograph). Once again check our link to Spectral Systems for more details.

LIBS – Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy. A laser is used to vaporise the sample and to produce atomic emission which is measured using a suitable spectrometer.

MALDI – Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation – used for characterisation of large organic molecules such as Proteins and Genomes etc. JCS can advise on this technique also.