Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectroscopy System

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The requested equipment is the AGILENT 5800 Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) from Agilent Technologies. This instrument is using the most reliable and sensitive method for rapid, simultaneous multi-element determinations at trace level (part per million to part per billion range) in mixed, complex aqueous and organic solutions. The advanced analytical capabilities of the ICP-OES allow for high flexibility and versatility of use, covering large detection limits (from parts per billion to hundreds of parts per million) in both organic and aqueous-based liquid matrices. It is a standard instrument for elemental analysis (all metals and metalloids such as P, S and Si) in laboratories working with dissolved elements in aqueous and/or organic solutions. Any type of sample that can be dissolved or digested (i.e., brought into a liquid form) can be analyzed by ICP-OES, as the technique covers a diverse range of application areas including environmental, geochemical, semiconductor, clinical, nuclear, chemical, food, and metallurgical. Various research groups in the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Toronto focus on developing novel sustainable processes and environmentally responsible solutions for the metals/minerals, water recovery, chemical and pulp and paper industries. Ongoing and planned research projects cover wide fields of interest in our Department among 6 groups employing about 30 researchers. As such, in-house use of a fast and sensitive simultaneous multi-element detection technique will elevate our productivity and analytical precision immensely. The present ICP-OES in the department (Agilent 700 series, manufactured in 2010) was purchased through an NSERC RTI grant (2011-2012 application period) is ageing and is nearing end of manufacturer's support period. Although current maintenance and support costs us $13,000/year on average, we have been advised that "this particular model of instrument is now out of guaranteed support due to age, and availability of repair parts is limited". This is an essential instrument for our continuing research efforts. We rely on ICP-OES entirely and need to have a functioning instrument in house 24/7. In case of instrument failure/unavailability, research staff and students will have to resort to ICP-OES use outside the Department, which raises the issue of prompt accessibility, an important factor for samples that are unstable over longer periods of time (for example, sample composition may alter due to precipitation, biological activity, or phase change upon extended storage). Moreover, having an ICP-OES instrument in the department ensures proper usage supervision, consistency in maintenance, and thus confidence in measurements and results. The acquisition of the proposed new equipment will enable us to maintain our research quality objectives and move one step closer to commercializing the new technologies that we are developing.