Trace Metals Analysis
We develop and apply unique qualitative and quantitative methods to determine trace metals in environmental, biological, geological, and clinical samples. Our work supports the needs of government and university research programs as well as the pharmaceutical and microelectronics industries. In the emerging field of metallomics, we perform isolation, quantitation, and structural determination of covalently bound metals in proteins or metal-protein complexes.
Focus Areas
- Toxicology support (see National Toxicology Program)
- Speciation studies: Identification and measurement of small molecules of arsenic, chromium, mercury, tin, and many other elements and large molecules (metalloproteins) (see Trace Element Speciation and Metallomics)
- Analytical support to the pharmaceutical industry in compliance with Good Laboratory Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices (see Trace Metals Analysis in Support of the Health Sciences)
- Environmental analyses (see Trace Metals Analysis in Support of Environmental Research)
- Trace elements reference materials and standards development: Lead proficiency samples, XRF thin-film standards (see Proficiency Testing for Environmental Lead Analysis)
- Measurement of trace contaminants in cleanroom garments and wipes (see Cleanroom Products Testing Services)
Major Instrumentation and Facilities
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Atomic spectroscopy, including inductively coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SF-MS), inductively coupled plasma-quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-Q-MS), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES)
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Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), HPLC, ion chromatography (IC)
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Elemental speciation (hyphenated) systems, including UHPLC-ICPMS, IC-ICPMS, HPLC-ICP-OES
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X-ray fluorescence (energy dispersive) (EDXRF)
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Cold-vapor atomic (absorption and fluorescence) spectroscopy (CVAAS and CVAFS)
Sample Preparation Equipment and Facilities
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Class 10 hoods and Class 100 and 10,000 cleanrooms (metal-free)
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Numerous microwave, hotblock, and water bath digestion systems
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Equipment for homogenization and lyophilization
Contacts
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Keith Levine [levine@rti.org]: trace metals analysis; NTP and pharmaceutical programs
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Frank Weber [fxw@rti.org]: general metals analysis and instrumentation
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Scott Afton [safton@rti.org]: elemental speciation
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David Binstock [binnie@rti.org]: lead programs
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Andrea McWilliams [acm@rti.org]: XRF programs
Contact us for more information
- Keith E. Levine