Send us Fan Mail This week on Bench Boost Mike explains two key ICP-OES/ICP-MS quality control samples: the Initial Calibration Verification (ICV) and Continuing Calibration Verification (CCV). The ICV is run after calibration and before samples to confirm the calibration worked. The CCV is run periodically during the batch to confirm the calibration remains valid as drift, clogging, cone buildup, washout, or other issues occur. This episode concludes with reviewing how to troubleshoot ICV or...

Send us Fan Mail This week Mike discusses elevated backgrounds in ICP-OES when analyzing high total dissolved solids (TDS) samples such as brines, digests, excipients, salts, and starting materials. TDS increases free electron density in the plasma, producing Bremsstrahlung (braking) radiation and recombination radiation, which raise a broad continuum background across the spectrum. The elevated background degrades signal-to-noise, increases blank standard deviation, and worsens detection lim...

Send us Fan Mail Join Mike this week on Bench Boost as he explores the basics of conductivity measurements. We review the theory of how conductivity is dependent on ion concentration, charge, and mobility. He describes how contact probes work, emphasizing the cell constant and how proper probe selection to avoid poor sensitivity or signal saturation. Temperature is highlighted as a major variable, often ~2–3% per °C. Lastly we cover calibration using NIST-traceable KCl standards, and how cali...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Bench Boost we discuss titration techniques based on USP 541 and the Inorganic Venture's Titration Tips and Tricks guide. Mike explains the difference between equivalence point and observed endpoint and how key performance factors can include using the correct glassware, appropriate techniques, and thorough cleaning of burettes. We also cover the correct way to read a meniscus, and how optimizing sample size can prevent poor replicate agreement and high result va...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Bench Boost Mike explains why accurate pH measurement is more complex than it appears, highlighting the effects from temperature, ionic strength, calibration technique, probe condition, and sample chemistry. He reviews pH theory of hydrogen ion activity (not just concentration) and the logarithmic meaning of pH changes, then describes how a pH probe functions as an electrochemical cell. He details temperature impacts on solution pH and electrode response (Nernst ...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Bench Boost Mike shares practical tips for analyzing pharmaceutical samples at low concentrations for USP 232 elemental impurities, emphasizing that high dilution makes small contamination or carryover issues critical. He advises minimizing contamination through careful container selection (avoiding glass and using acid-leached LDPE or leached polypropylene), and outlines a typical leaching process using dilute nitric acid for seven days. He also stresses using h...

Send us Fan Mail This week Mike and Ashley explain the J value used in pharmaceutical elemental impurity testing to relate typical ICP concentration units to permitted daily exposure (PDE) limits reported in micrograms per day under USP <232> and ICH Q3D. They describe how J value accounts for both sample dilution factor and maximum daily dose, making results comparable to PDE requirements. They recommend preparing method standards at PDE limits for the relevant administration route and...

Send us Fan Mail This week Mike & Ashley review the standardized methods for elemental impurity analysis in pharmaceuticals: ICH Q3D, USP <232>, and USP <233>. ICH Q3D provides guidelines for testing up to 24 elements and emphasizes risk assessment but not detailed testing calculations; USP <232> sets elemental impurity limits; and USP <233> addresses sample preparation and analysis and relies on ICH Q3D concepts such as “J” concentrations (to be covered next week)...

Send us Fan Mail The Inorganic Ventures team members answer more listener questions relevant to trace analysis. They address low mercury recovery at 2 ppb, noting mercury instability in nitric acid, adsorption to plastic, options such as preparing in HCl or stabilizing with ~1 ppm gold. They explain detection limit calculations using calibration data and blank replicates & distinguish instrument vs method detection limits, with suggestions to improve precision and sensitivity via conditio...

Send us Fan Mail The Inorganic Ventures team answers listener questions focused on pharmaceutical elemental impurity analysis by ICP-MS. They explain why an indium internal standard becomes unstable in high-pH matrices due to insoluble hydroxide formation and how EDTA complexation can stabilize indium when used for iodine analysis. They discuss mercury washout problems caused by volatility, adsorption to sample introduction surfaces, memory effects, and redox/speciation, and emphasize proper ...