My journey with inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometry started in 1984, at the National Research Council of Canada, where I worked on the first ELAN 250 ICP mass spectrometry (MS) instrument installed in Canada. I focused on fundamental studies on spectroscopic and non-spectroscopic interferences, as well as environmental applications, such as speciation analysis of arsenic in seafood extracts using liquid chromatography coupled to ICPMS, noticing the signal enhancement caused by methanol in the mobile phase.My journey continued at Queen's University from 1988. Aside from various applications of ICPMS, with a most recent focus on risk assessment of food safety and on improving single particle ICPMS (spICPMS), and of electrothermal vaporization (ETV) into ICP optical emission spectrometry (OES) for the direct analysis of solids, with a focus on forensic analysis, my group has continued fundamental studies towards eliminating wasteful sample introduction in the ICP as well as matrix effects and oxide interferences in ICPMS.

For instance, to avoid losing the load buffer effect of water on the plasma, pre-evaporating the aerosol can achieve 100% sample transport in spICPMS, thereby eliminating the requirement to measure the sample transport efficiency. Using pre-evaporation, an ICP can withstand more than twice the highest sample uptake rate previously used for total sample consumption.A wet plasma or a mixed-gas plasma is also advantageous for ETV-ICPOES. Furthermore, a mixed-gas plasma at low sample uptake rate in ICPMS increases robustness and can eliminate oxide interference without a sacrifice in sensitivity.

This presentation will review progress in ICP spectrometry and include unpublished work in progress as well as unique applications showcasing the endless capabilities of ICPMS and ICPOES.