Applications of ICP-AES:

The ICP-AES technique is versatile tool in the hands of analytical chemists. As many as 60 elements can be determined by it in a wide range of analyte samples such as rocks, minerals, soil, air, water, agriculture, forestry ecology, food analysis, etc. Therefore it has become an indispensable technique. Some of the important analytical applications in different areas are given below, you would learn about the applications in detail in the next unit.

Agricultural science: Analysis of agricultural products and foods besides soil analysis.

Health sciences: Determination of Al in blood, Cu in brain tissue, Se in liver, Na in breast milk. Direct determination of Ca, Fe, Cu, Mg, Na and K in serum samples.

Geological sciences: Presence of lanthanides and other elements in rock samples.

Forensic Sciences: Crime scene soil analysis.

Metallurgy: Analysis of trace elements in stainless steel.

Environmental science: Waste water analysis, determination of pollutant metals in variety of matrices.

Industry: Presence of metals like Cu, Fe, Ni, and Si in lubricating oils or gasoline at tracer concentration.

Traces of metals such as Ca, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mg, P, K and Zn in beer or wine; determination of trace elements in polymers, evaluation of catalysts, and so on.