Laboratory Testing Inc.

Instrumented Chemical Analyses

LTI performs a variety of instrumented techniques including Direct Reading Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES), Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES), Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS), Combustion Furnace Method and Inert Gas Fusion.

Direct Reading Optical Emission Spectroscopy

OES is one of the most useful instrumental based methods for performing elemental chemical analysis. The basic principle of OES is that when free atoms are put into an energetic environment, they emit light in a series of wavelength bands, similar to the diffraction of light into a rainbow. These wavelength bands or emission lines form a pattern that is characteristic of the atom that produced it. Generally, the intensities of the various characteristic lines are proportional to the number of atoms that produced the lines. If an element is present in a sample, its characteristic spectrum lines also will be present. The concentration of that particular element can be determined by measuring the intensities of the characteristic lines and comparing them to the same lines from known concentration standards. Thus, the type of element can be identified qualitatively by the emission spectrum and the amount of the element can by measured quan-titatively by the intensities of the emission lines.

The OES system that we have at Laboratory Testing has a spark source. The sample is put in the spectrometer as a cathode and a tungsten pin is the anode. The gap between the pin and the sample is filled with the inert gas Argon. When the spark strikes the sample, rapid heating of the sample occurs causing vaporization of a small amount of sample from the surface, and forming a plasma (high energy gas cloud). The plasma produces the spectrum of lines from the elements that are present in the sample. The spectra are analyzed using mirrors and a diffraction grating to separate the analytical lines, as well as a set of photomultiplier tubes to quantify the light emitted from the elements and to measure their concentrations. Then, a computer compares the amount of light from the sample to that of known standards to identify the element, and calculates the quantity of the element.

Spectrographic spark source instruments are very rapid and are often used in production applications such as steel mills and foundries. Sample preparation involves grinding a flat surface on the solid test piece. (Samples for this type of analysis must be solid, at least 0.040" thick, and capable of having a 1" x 1" area ground or machined on them so they will cover the excitation apperature). The flat test piece is then put in the spectrometer and the system is energized. The test results are printed for viewing and evaluation.

Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy

ICP-AES is a technique that determines elemental concentrations of trace to major, based on the principle of atomic spectroscopy. In theory, the technique can be used to detect all elements, except argon. In practice, good results are obtained for about 70 elements with detection limits at the parts per billion level.


ICP is an excitation source for atomic emission spectroscopy. The plasma consists of argon gas operated at atmospheric pressure and inductively coupled to a radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field. The components of an ICP system are the sample introduction area, the ICP torch and argon gas supplies, the RF generator, the spectrometer, the detection electronics and the system computer. The sample is a solution of the test material that is introduced into the ICP as a fine aerosol of droplets produced by a nebulizer. The torch is usually a set of concentric quartz tubes that contain the argon used for the plasma, for cooling the torch and for guiding the test sample to the plasma. The RF generator supplies the high-frequency alternating current in the induction coil and sustains the inductive coupling of energy into the plasma. The spectrometer detects the atomic emissions produced. The computer is used to control and monitor instrument functions and to process, store and output the results of the analysis.

Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Atomic Absorption Spectrometry generally is used to measure relatively low concentrations of metals in liquid samples. The ruggedness due to less interference and the low equipment cost make this method competitive with other instrumented methods. The basic principle of AAS is the selective absorption of the bright continuum radiation emitted from an excited atom. The method involves a sample atomization system and a flame or furnace. The flame vaporizes as well as atomizes fine droplets produced by the nebulizer. The furnace evaporates, chars, vaporizes and excites the atoms of an injected sample. A monochromator isolates a wavelength that is characteristic of a transition between electronic energy levels of the selected element. A light intensity to electrical signal transducer, a photomultiplier tube, and a data reduction system convert the electrical signal to a concentration of the element.

Combustion Furnace Method for Carbon and Sulfur Analyses

Carbon and sulfur are easily oxidized. Therefore, when they oxidize they leave oxide gas as the metal. High temperature combustion uses this oxidation principle as the basis of obtaining the content of these elements in a material. In the combustion furnace, the introduction of oxygen with the high temperature causes the sample to combust. The gases are passed through a series of traps, absorbers and converters to remove interfering elements and to ensure the gases have the proper structure for detection. Infrared detection is used to determine the concentration of the carbon or sulfur. The infrared detector is used on the basis that various gases can absorb energy within a specific wavelength of the infrared spectrum. The amount of energy absorbed is related to the amount of the carbon or sulfur in the test sample.

Inert Gas Fusion

Inert gas fusion is used to determine the gas content in ferrous and nonferrous materials. The gases, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen, are found in the materials as a result of the melting processes and subsequent hot and cold working methods. Controlling the gas contents to low levels minimizes their adverse effects on mechanical properties such as strength and ductility. The inert gas method reverses the bonding between the gases and the metals, causing the dissociation of the gases. The dissociated gas is moved along a very elaborate separation chamber by an inert carrier gas. The gas to be analyzed flows into the detection system. Depending on the gas to be determined, the detection system is either an infrared system or a thermoconductivity detection system. The infrared system is used here at LTI to detect oxygen, and the thermo-conductivity system is used to detect nitrogen and hydrogen.