ICP-MS, short for Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, is an analytical technique used for element determination. Combining a high-temperature ICP source, which is for converting the atoms of the elements in the sample to ions, with a mass spectrometer, which then separates and detects the ions. 

For the scientific fields, a slight improvement of the ICP-MS instrument will bring great results. Realizing its binding effect, FPI has invested much in the research. And luckily, the trajectory has seen all the ups and downs composing the series of the ICP-MS instrument.

Why Engaging in the Research Is Attractive

As institutions and governments engaged in the Life Sciences and environmental protections pile their investments into the healthcare industry, the demands for identifying complex contents are surging. It is because the ICP-MS can accurately measure basic chemical features in the contents that make them popular in the healthcare, food processing, environmental monitoring, and industrial areas. Advanced scientific instruments like ICP-MS are important in the following prospects:

1. Help to break the bottleneck in scientific research and finding

ICM-MS is one of the strongest instruments since it can identify the structure of compounds while testifying to the composition. Pro. Tan from the Chinese Academy of Engineering said that developing advanced scientific instruments tops the agenda to foster national strength. 

2. Help to bolster the basics for quality scientific development

In 2011, FPI, cooperating with governments, institutions, and elite universities like Tsinghua University and Fudan University, and associating with our seed company, EXPEC, shouldered the responsibility to self-develop the core technologies in the ICP-MS instrument.

3. Act as a driver for innovations

ICP-MS instrument will affect scientists’ cognitive competence. Its progress can influence many industries for sure. 

The Journey We Went Through

In 2011, FPI, cooperating with governments, institutions, and elite universities like Tsinghua University and Fudan University, and associating with our seed company, EXPEC, shouldered the responsibility to self-develop the core technologies in the ICP-MS instrument.

The journey is long and tiring, with all the accidents and hopes to pop up. In 2013, MARS-9000, the first generation, came out, representing that we basically grabbed the critical technologies. However, it was elephantine, not reaching the common standard then. 

Later, in 2014, the second generation was born, with exponential growth in accuracy and capacity and a huge drop in weight and size by half and 25%, respectively. This then became the mainstream in the market.

As mentioned, advanced instruments are related to various industries, supporting and bootstring their development. For example, in the healthcare industry, they ensure the accuracy of diagnosis and treatments; in environmental protection, they help to harvest real-time environmental information.

But the story never ends. We have been progressing the third generation to make our instrument meet the markets’ demands. We were not constringed in the laboratory but adapted our machines to the real cases. That is why our machines can be welcomed by many industries in a short time. In 2016, the third generation of the SUPEC-7000 series was rolled out, with an upgrade in the mechanics and circuits, accelerating its response rate to realize real-time detection.

SUPEC-7000: Show up on the Stage

Here is the detailed information about the ICP:

What does the instrument consist?

• An efficient sample introduction system can stabilize the plasma while delivering a highly sensitive performance. 
• An advanced argon online dilution and oxygenated combustion system for analyzing organic samples that are high in salt.
• ICP ion source to add to the accuracy of the plasma.
• Twice off-axis on lens technology of composite lens that will transmit the ions more efficiently while eliminating photon and neutral particle interference.
• High-speed dynamic collision/reaction cell based on hexapole to eliminate interference with high-efficiency.
• Pure molybdenum quadrupole mass analyzer to realize mass screening with high precision.
• Digital/analog dual mode detector with a dynamic range from 9 to 1 0 orders of magnitude.

Why is SUPEC-7000 more competitive?

• Detection limit, ppt level, extremely wide dynamic linear range, for most elements better than 109.
• The ability of complex matrices-resistant due to the high-temperature of the ICP source.
• Great performance with great stability ≤ 2% @ 20 min, CeO/Ce ≤ 3% and Ba++/Ba+ ≤ 3%.
• The ability to obtain isotopic information Hexapole collision/reaction cell to eliminate polyatomic interference.

Application:

• Elemental speciation analysis
• Soil detection
• Geological survey
• Water and waste management

Here we want to highlight that the ICP has already been applied in milk detection. Nowadays, iodine excess becomes a severe issue considering the rising standard of living, which has also affected babies because they might take the infant recipe food with excessive iodine.  

However, gas chromatography, one of the access to check the iodine quantity in dairy products, is super complicated and imprecise. Therefore, ICP-MS has become the preeminent equipment for iodine checking since it has higher precision, accuracy, and stability with stronger operability.

Conclusion

We all know technologies and innovation are the trunks of a company, but the journey is filled with suspicion and frustration in most case scenarios. But in the cutthroat market, what you have made, not what you have done, comes forefront. That is why we can not only talk the talk but also walk the walk. 

Years of development and all the advanced technologies and instrument applied in numerous industries have already demonstrated our commitment to R&D, and the ICP-MS is an example, 

Now, to know more about FPI and its advanced instrument, feel free to visit our website: /en/