Inorganics Analysis
Inorganic chemistry research at RTI includes the development, evaluation, validation, and application of chemical analysis methods for inorganic metals and nonmetals. We perform this highly versatile work in support of government agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), universities, utility companies, and pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers. For example, we have supported crucial federal programs such as the National Toxicology Program and the National Human Exposure Assessment Survey.
Using state-of-the-art cleanroom facilities and instrumentation, we routinely analyze samples at parts-per-billion to parts-per-trillion concentrations, adhering strictly to FDA and EPA Good Laboratory Practices, as required.
Services
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Determination of trace elements in animal and human tissues and fluids for assessment of toxicity and element distribution
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Remediation of hazardous waste and radioactive materials
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Chemometric studies for method evaluation
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Ultratrace analysis of elements in air, water, dust, and food samples for human exposure assessment
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Methods development for
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Chemical speciation
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Determination of metals and metalloids in animal tissues, fluids, and feeds
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Sample introduction, including direct analysis of samples to improve efficiency, accuracy, and turnaround time
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Microwave digestion and other sample preparation techniques to insure accurate, quantitative recovery of analytes in difficult matrices
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Consultation in trace analysis and cleanroom design and reference laboratory services to evaluate cleanroom performance for metal-free sample preparation and analysis of metals at ultratrace levels
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Design of flexible analysis schemes to support commercial products from initial development stages through stability testing and quality assurance
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Support for the evaluation of analytical methods by designing and conducting round-robin, interlaboratory comparison studies
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Design and conduct of chemometric evaluations, providing a highly cost-efficient approach to improving methods and/or establishing the limits of method performance. Multiple experimental parameters and multiple chemical interferences are evaluated simultaneously to establish the significance of each -- individually and in combinations -- to the analytical performance of the method.
Our service offerings in inorganics analysis frequently require collaboration with experts in other fields. By combining our analytical chemistry capabilities with our expertise in fields such as toxicology, statistics, and information technology, we provide research solutions to our clients' unconventional analytical problems.
Cleanroom Facilities
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Class 100 cleanroom laboratory for preparation of samples in an ultraclean, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-filtered, nonmetallic environment
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Class 10,000 laboratory for instrumental analysis of samples at ultratrace concentrations in a HEPA-filtered environment
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Ambient air laboratories for preparation and analysis of samples with elevated concentrations of metals
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Laser laboratory with light-shielded, vibration-damped breadboard and computer-controlled shutter, pulse, and data acquisition capabilities
These laboratories are designed to achieve maximum efficiency in removal of air particles and to eliminate potential contamination of samples, with HEPA and ultralow penetration air (ULPA) filters; polypropylene, HEPA-filtered fume hoods; polypropylene benches, wall, and floors; and a computer-controlled, automated air-monitoring system.
Cleanroom Instrumentation
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Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Multi-element isotopic analysis over a wide concentration range, with detection limits for most elements in the low parts-per-trillion range; chemical speciation analysis using various chromatographic techniques coupled to radiochemical purity (RCP)-MS; standard or ultrasonic nebulization and ion chromatography or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation
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Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Stabilized-temperature (platform) graphite furnace atomic absorption (GFAA) with Zeeman and deuterium background correction and in both longitudinal and transverse heating designs, as well as 2 standard flame atomic absorption (FAA) spectrometers
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Atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). Hydride generation and cold-vapor atomic fluorescence with autosampler and computer control for efficient, ultratrace analysis
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Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Multi-element analysis with independent internal-standard monitoring from ultraviolet through visible wavelengths
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Laser spectroscopy. Argon ion laser with ultraviolet and visible wavelength capabilities, computer-controlled photodiode array spectrometer with fiber-optic light pipes and micro-positioners
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Molecular fluorescence spectrometry. Standard fluorescence spectrometer, high-sensitivity cooled-PMT fluorometer, and intensified-channel photodiode array fluorometer
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Ultraviolet and visible spectrometry. Standard fixed-wavelength and scanning spectrometers
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Anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). Microelectrode, rotating disk, and hanging mercury-drop applications of anodic and cathodic stripping analysis for trace metals
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Spectroelectrochemistry. Combination of laser excitation and microelectrode detection of trace chemical species
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Chromatography. Nonmetallic, advanced HPLC system compatible with solvents and buffers with pH values between 1 and 14, accommodating an array of chromatographic separations including ion exchange, reversed-phase, gel filtration, affinity, and hydrophobic interaction
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