The protection of soil, a crucial non-renewable resource, is essential due to its significant role in environmental health and human well-being. Contaminants in soil can harm its functions, cross-contaminate water sources, and adversely affect the food chain and human health. This underscores the importance of monitoring contamination levels in soil and sludge, particularly from urban and industrial wastewater treatment.
SPECTRO Analytical Instruments has addressed this need with their innovative SPECTROGREEN ICP-OES with Twin Interface Plasma Observation. This advanced instrument is designed to provide accurate and sensitive analysis of soil and sludge, ensuring compliance with stringent environmental standards such as those set by the European Union and the US EPA.
QES Technology Philippines, Inc., the authorized distributor of SPECTROGREEN ICP-OES in the Philippines, plays a pivotal role in making this cutting-edge technology accessible to local laboratories and industries. Their head office in Ayala Alabang, with service offices in strategic locations such as Pampanga, Cebu, and Surigao, allows them to provide extensive support to clients nationwide.
Key Features of SPECTROGREEN ICP-OES
The SPECTROGREEN ICP-OES, with its Twin Interface Plasma Observation, excels in the analysis of soil and sewage sludge. It utilizes a dual observation mode—radial for alkali and earth alkali elements without ionization buffering, and axial for trace elements with high sensitivity. This capability ensures precise and reliable measurements across a wide range of elements.
The instrument’s design includes a Paschen-Runge spectrometer mount with the proprietary Optimized Rowland Circle Alignment (ORCA) technique, which allows for comprehensive spectrum capture within three seconds. This feature, combined with the ability to reprocess data without needing new measurements, makes SPECTROGREEN highly efficient.
Analytical Capabilities and Performance
The SPECTROGREEN ICP-OES demonstrates excellent performance in sensitivity, precision, and accuracy, making it suitable for regulatory compliance and environmental monitoring. The report highlights the instrument's ability to accurately detect various elements, as evidenced by spike recovery measurements.
In compliance with standard procedures such as US-EPA Methods 3050B and 6010C, EN 13346, and ISO 11885, the SPECTROGREEN ICP-OES is capable of multi-element determination with high dynamic linear range and sensitivity. The detection limits for various elements are detailed, ensuring users can meet regulatory requirements.
Experimental Procedures and Sample Preparation
Sample preparation is a critical aspect of accurate soil and sludge analysis. The report outlines methods such as extraction by boiling under reflux conditions and closed vessel microwave digestion. These methods ensure thorough digestion of samples, minimizing the risk of incomplete analysis.
For instance, the closed vessel microwave digestion method involves adding a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids to the sample, followed by controlled heating in a microwave oven. This process ensures complete digestion and safe handling of reactive samples, crucial for accurate analysis.
Calibration and Results
Calibration standards are essential for accurate analysis, and the SPECTROGREEN ICP-OES uses standards containing aqua regia to match the sample matrix. The calibration process, coupled with the instrument's high sensitivity, allows for precise detection of elements at trace levels.
The results presented in the report showcase the SPECTROGREEN ICP-OES's ability to achieve excellent recoveries for all tested elements. This performance underscores the instrument’s suitability for both routine analysis and complex environmental monitoring tasks.
Conclusion
The SPECTROGREEN ICP-OES with Twin Interface Plasma Observation offers a robust, efficient, and accurate solution for the analysis of soil and sludge. Its advanced features, combined with the support of QES Technology Philippines, Inc. as the authorized distributor in the Philippines, ensure that laboratories and industries have access to top-tier analytical capabilities.
For further information, inquiries, or quotations, QES Technology Philippines, Inc. can be reached at +632 771 1248 or qtpmarketing@qesnet.com.
