In order to request the analysis of a sample for ICP, you have to get yourselves with the staff responsible for the team in touch.

In case it is wanted by ICP to analyse, the applicant has to inform about the toxicity and dangerousness of the sample and precautions of storage.

Conditions of delivery of the sample:

The samples have to give up in recipients adapted to preserve the integrity from it and indicating if any special condition of conservation is necessary before the analysis. The system of samples introduction for any of both ICP is for nebulisation, this means that they can only be analysed samples liquid. The recommended minimum amount is 10-15 mL.

In case the sample is a solid, or because the type of matrix makes it necessary, the Services have a team digester for microwave to be able to make a digestion completes of the sample.

Once the results of analysis given, the surplus of sample keeps in the facilities of the STR, stored in the conditions agreed on, a maximum period in 3 months, passed that is destroyed in a suitable way.

The liquid sample is introduced in the form of aerosol in the zone of the plasma of Argó, into temperatures that can arrive at the 8000 K, the excitement and ionisation of the elements present to the sample taking place.

This part is common to both teams.

With the team d'ICP-OES, the issued radiation is measured by the atoms excited, with detection of wave lengths of between  167 and 785 nms. In the case of the ICP-MS, the relation is measured too much/load of the ions generated in the plasma.

Both techniques reach limits of traces detection (in some cases, depending on the element, ultra-traces can manage to be measured). However, a team or another depending on the element, of the expected concentrations, of the present interfering possible ones to the sample and of the matrix with which people work is chosen.

The participation in this essay is a form of measuring the quality of the results through an external evaluation.

They usually tell around 15 laboratories at scale international. It consists of the analysis of two samples of continental waters, giving results of the contents of different elements: In that, Faith, Mn, Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni and Zn (ICP-MS) and At, Mg, Na, K (ICP-OES).

The Services take part in it since 2005, always obtaining satisfactory results.

The determination of the contents in metals and other elements is a point of extensive application in chemical analysis. Because of that the fields of interest in this technique are very big.

• The study of waters, sweet or sea waters, are already potable, residual.
• The study of grounds and sediments to evaluate, for example, the bachelor's degree of pollution of some agricultural earth or of mining, so active zones of exploitations as in disuse.
• Evaluation of the quality of the ecosystems with the presence and level of concentration of metals in the seaweeds, fabrics of fish or molluscs.
• Characterisation of raw materials, quality assurance of finished products.