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At Spectrosc 2018 Dec 1;39(6):219-228. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, Inorganic & Radiation Analytical Toxicology Branch, 4770 Buford Highway NE MS F-50, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, USA.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Environmental Health Laboratory uses modified versions of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analytical methods to quantify metals contamination present in items that will come into contact with patient samples during the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical stages. This lot screening process allows us to reduce the likelihood of introducing contamination which can lead to falsely elevated results. This is particularly important when looking at biomonitoring levels in humans which tend to be near the limit of detection of many methods. Read More

At Spectrosc 2018 May;39(3):95-99

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, Inorganic and Radiation Analytical Toxicology Branch 4770 Buford Hwy NE, MS F-18, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.

A probing study to establish a reliable and robust method for determining the iodine concentration using the ELAN DRC II ICP-MS was performed in combination with a sample digestion and filtration step. Dairy products from locally available sources were evaluated to help determine the possibility and need for further evaluations in relation to the U.S. Read More

Spectrochim Acta Part B At Spectrosc 2018 Feb 6;140:5-12. Epub 2017 Dec 6.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, USA.

Adhesive bonding of composite materials requires reliable monitoring and detection of surface contaminants as part of a vigorous quality control process to assure robust and durable bonded structures. Surface treatment and effective monitoring prior to bonding is essential in order to obtain a surface which is free from contaminants that may lead to inferior bond quality. In this study, the focus is to advance the laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique by using pulse energies below 100 μJ (μLIBS) for the detection of low levels of silicone contaminants in carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. Read More

Spectrochim Acta Part B At Spectrosc 2016 Aug 22;122:192-202. Epub 2016 Mar 22.

Laboratory of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, P.O. Box 509, Albany, NY 12201-0509, USA.

X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) is a rapid, non-destructive multi-elemental analytical technique used for determining elemental contents ranging from percent down to the µg/g level. Although detection limits are much higher for XRF compared to other laboratory-based methods, such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), ICP-optical emission spectrometry (OES) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), its portability and ease of use make it a valuable tool, especially for field-based studies. A growing necessity to monitor human exposure to toxic metals and metalloids in consumer goods, cultural products, foods and other sample types while performing the analysis has led to several important developments in portable XRF technology. Read More

Spectrochim Acta Part B At Spectrosc 2016 Feb;116:21-27

Office of Regulatory Affairs, Arkansas Regional Laboratory, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR 72079, United States.

This investigation reports a rapid and simple screening technique for the quantification of titanium and zinc in commercial sunscreens using portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (pXRF). A highly evolved technique, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) was chosen as a comparative technique to pXRF, and a good correlation (r > 0.995) with acceptable variations (≤25%) in results between both techniques was observed. Read More

Spectrochim Acta Part B At Spectrosc 2014 Nov;101:123-129

Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria.

Nebulising liquid samples and using the aerosol thus obtained for further analysis is the standard method in many current analytical techniques, also with inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-based devices. With such a set-up, quantification via external calibration is usually straightforward for samples with aqueous or close-to-aqueous matrix composition. However, there is a variety of more complex samples. Read More

Spectrochim Acta Part B At Spectrosc 2014 Sep;99(100):121-128

Atominstitut, Vienna University of Technology, Stadionallee 2, A-1020 Vienna, Austria.

The continuous downscaling of the process size for semiconductor devices pushes the junction depths and consequentially the implantation depths to the top few nanometers of the Si substrate. This motivates the need for sensitive methods capable of analyzing dopant distribution, total dose and possible impurities. X-ray techniques utilizing the external reflection of X-rays are very surface sensitive, hence providing a non-destructive tool for process analysis and control. Read More

Spectrochim Acta Part B At Spectrosc 2008 Jun;63(6):685-691

Institute of Analytical Chemistry of the ASCR, v.v.i., Vídeòská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic.

An improvement of current method of selective hydride generation based on pre-reduction for differentiation of tri- and pentavalent arsenicals is described, applied for the oxidation state specific speciation analysis of inorganic, mono-, di- and trimethylated arsenicals with minimum sample pretreatment using atomic absorption spectrometry with the multiatomizer. The preconcentration and separation of arsine, methylarsine, dimethylarsine and trimethylarsine is then carried out by means of cryotrapping. Presented study shows that 2% (m/v) L-cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate (L-cys) currently used for off-line pre-reduction of pentavalent arsenicals can be substituted with 1% (m/v) thioglycolic acid (TGA). Read More

Spectrochim Acta Part B At Spectrosc 2008 Mar;63(3):396-406

Institute of Analytical Chemistry of the ASCR, v.v.i., Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic.

An automated system for hydride generation - cryotrapping- gas chromatography - atomic absorption spectrometry with the multiatomizer is described. Arsines are preconcentrated and separated in a Chromosorb filled U-tube. An automated cryotrapping unit, employing nitrogen gas formed upon heating in the detection phase for the displacement of the cooling liquid nitrogen, has been developed. Read More

Spectrochim Acta Part B At Spectrosc 2008 Feb;63(2):95-103

Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.

This article presents an overview of the development, operation, and applications of optical nanobiosensors for use in detection of biotargets in individual living cells. The nanobiosensors are equipped with immobilized bioreceptor probes (e.g. Read More