Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and spark-discharge optical emission spectrometer (spark OES) have been introduced.

  Last year, our laboratory introduced an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS, Agilent Technologies 7800 ICP-MS) and spark-discharge optical emission spectrometer (spark OES, Thermo Fisher SCIENTIFIC ARL iSpark 8860).

An ICP-MS is used to detect inorganic elements in water solutions. It determines the concentration of extremely small amounts of elements in seconds at ppm to ppb (0.0001 to 0.0000001%) levels. An example of its use is the analysis of drinking water, for which Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has set the water quality standards (e.g. lead ≤ 50 ppb). ∗Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectroscopy

Spark OES, also known as Quantovac, analyzes the composition of metal in several tens of seconds. OES detects spectral lines generated by each element when spark is formed between a metal surface and an electrode, and quantitatively analyzes the composition of the elements from the intensity of the spectrum. A block with a flat measuring plane can be used as a sample by being polished by a special polishing device. For low alloy steels, 27 elements are quantified at one time (one spark) in approximately 30 seconds.   An OES analyzer is widely used in field work because it quickly and accurately quantifies chemical components in molten steel, allowing users to feed back the results to a refining process without delay. Although, as of January 16, 2017, samples our laboratory deals with are limited to low-alloy steel, we are going to expand the range of materials, starting with materials for which greater demand is anticipated. ∗Spark-discharge optical emission spectroscopy