In this issue...

News from the Lab  Articles Online  Analytical Quick Tip  Joke of the Month  Smarter Storage for Accurate Standards

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Making a Difference
Strides Against Breast Cancer
Inorganic Ventures is proud to participate in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer five mile walk. The event is being held on Sunday, October 17^th at Point Pleasant Beach, NJ.

71-Element Set
Multiple-Application ICP-MS Standards Set
Inorganic Ventures is the first to introduce the most complete, versatile and stable ICP-MS multi-element set. View the set details for an elemental breakdown.

When using glass concentric nebulizers, you can cut down on plugging and breakage if you: a) filter your carrier gas; b) filter your samples; c) rinse your nebulizer between samples; and d) NEVER use an ultrasonic cleaning bath to attempt to unplug or clean the nebulizer. Back flushing with water is usually effective in removing particulates and deposits.

The following storage considerations will help your chemical standard solutions to remain accurate over time.

1. Know the chemical stability of your standard. Chemical stability can be altered by changes in starting materials and preparation conditions. It is therefore advisable to perform stability studies on all standard solutions to avoid time consuming and costly delays or mistakes and to strictly adhere to preparation methodology, including order of addition for multi-component standard solutions.
   
   
2. Note the temperature during storage and attempt to maintain a storage temperature at or around 20 °C. Some standards are not stable for long periods at room temperature and require refrigeration or even freezing.
   
   
3. Perform the stability study in the container material selected for storage. It is not advisable to use volumetric flasks as storage containers due to expense, contamination, and transpiration issues.
   
   
4. Determine if the standard is photosensitive and/or store in the dark if there is a concern. This is an issue with some of the precious metals and is a function of matrix. Photosensitivity will increase in the presence of higher energy light (sunlight as opposed to artificial light) and trace or minor amounts of organics especially if there is an extractable proton alpha to an electron withdrawing functional group such as a carbonyl group. The presence of chloride may increase instability to photo reduction. A classic example is Ag⁺ in HCl solutions.
   
   
5. Store the standard in containers that will not contribute to contamination of the standard. LDPE is an excellent container for most inorganic standards.
   
   
6. Weigh the standard solution before storage and then just before the next use. If there is measurable transpiration the weight will decrease with time.

Articles Online  more articles »

Common Problems With Hg, Au, Si, Os, and Na
Part twelve of our ICP Operations guide offers tips when working with mercury, gold, silicon, osmium, and sodium.

Common Problems With Ag, As, S, Ba, Pb, and Cr
Part thirteen of our ICP Operations guide provides suggestions when working with silver, arsenic, sulfur, barium, lead, and chromium.

Overcoming Au Stability Issues
Dr. Gaines recommends a solution for overcoming Au stability issues when working with nitric acid matrices.

Determination of As in Sediment
Dr. Gaines offers tips for the determination of arsenic and other toxic elements in sediment samples.

Joke of the Month  more humor »

An analyst is reading a detailed book on helium. His colleague sees the book and asks, "That's the latest book on helium, isn't it? Any chance I can borrow it?

The analyst replies, "Sorry, I just can't seem to put it down."

DISCLAIMER: Inorganic Ventures apologizes to anyone offended by our poor attempts at humor. Jokes like the one above are so bad, we just have to share them.