This application note addresses the challenge of accurately measuring trace elements in solid materials which is essential for quality control, contamination identification, and process optimization across metallurgy, materials science, and resource extraction industries.
Analyzing USGS black glass reference materials, the study demonstrates quantification of major, minor, and trace elements in a single analytical session with 10% average accuracy for major elements and 9% for trace elements. Results encompass elements from lithium to uranium, including rare earth elements, achieving detection limits in the high parts-per-billion range—approximately three orders of magnitude lower than XRF and LIBS.
The document showcases how direct solid sample analysis eliminates complex acid digestion procedures, reduces total analysis time to approximately 30 minutes, and enables reliable detection of difficult low-mass elements like lithium, carbon, and oxygen alongside high-mass elements in the same session.
