Teledyne Leeman Labs Blog

For most applications, the ICP-OES requires the sample be in liquid form. Solid samples can be acid digested or dissolved in a solvent suitable for use with the ICP.

Liquid samples are delivered to the ICP using a sample introduction system, which is made up by the torch, spray chamber, nebulizer, peristaltic pump and tubing. In this blog post, we will look at the nebulizer.

The American Chemistry Society recently took a look at the chemistry of olive oil in a recent episode of its YouTube show, Reactions.

The debate about whether olive oil is healthy continues, but there is a lot of chemistry that goes on to produce a bottle.

With millions of consumers reportedly getting sick each year from foodborne diseases, how do food analysts know the best methods to keep products safe, manage risk and protect the integrity of their brands?  With the variety of methods available in the battle of food defense, food safety experts have to carefully hone their choices. A recent article in Lab Manager magazine went into more detail about a few of these methods.

When it comes to analytical testing, there is a single organization that sets the requirements and develops the methods for determining the purity of reagent chemicals, the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Teledyne Leeman Labs recently completed an analysis of reagent chemicals to determine their ultratrace elemental levels. The purpose of the analysis was to “demonstrate the ability of the Teledyne Leeman Lab’s Prodigy7 simultaneous ICP-OES, to quickly and accurately determine ultratrace elemental levels in selected reagent grade chemicals.” The company performed the analysis using procedures developed by the ACS. Results were then compared with ACS specifications.

Leeman Labs is a pioneer in the ICP spectrometry industry, and we were the first to use an Echelle spectrometer for ICP-OES. Recently we added our new Prodigy Plus High Dispersion ICP Spectrometer to our family of ICP-OES instruments. The Prodigy Plus builds upon our legacy and experience, while incorporating new state-of-the-art technology.

Steel is critical to our modern world, with companies producing more than 1.6 billion tons every year[i]. When it comes to high-carbon steel, the higher the carbon content, the harder and stronger the steel is.  As carbon is reduced, the iron becomes more flexible and easier to form. Carbon steel makes up more than 85% of the steel produced in the United States, and while other alloys can be used to change steel properties, such as Manganese and Vanadium, carbon is the most cost-effective alloying material for iron.

More than 144 homes in a two-square mile southeast of Los Angeles County are the focus of lead contamination test after the California Department of Toxic Substances Control detected high levels of lead in soil near a temporarily closed battery recycling plant. In the fall of 2013, elevated levels of lead at 39 homes and a preschool near the plant were blamed on air pollution from the plant and prompted local officials to issue health warnings and push for additional testing. State regulators expanded the lead soil testing to include more than 144 homes in Vernon, California.