Trace Metals Analysis

We develop and apply unique qualitative and quantitative methods to determine trace metals in environmental, biological, geological, and clinical samples. Our work supports the needs of government and university research programs as well as the pharmaceutical and microelectronics industries. In the emerging field of metallomics, we perform isolation, quantitation, and structural determination of covalently bound metals in proteins or metal-protein complexes.

Focus Areas

Toxicology support (see National Toxicology Program)
USP limits <232> and quantitation <233> tests for metals using validated instrumentation, trace metals preparation facilities, and GxP quality assurance practices (see USP <232> and <233> Testing)
Trace elements reference materials and standards development: Lead proficiency samples, XRF thin-film standards (see Proficiency Testing for Environmental Lead Analysis)
Measurement of trace contaminants in cleanroom garments and wipes (see Cleanroom Products Testing Services)

Major Instrumentation and Facilities

Atomic spectroscopy, including inductively coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SF-MS), inductively coupled plasma-quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-Q-MS), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES)
Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), HPLC, ion chromatography (IC)
Elemental speciation (hyphenated) systems, including UHPLC-ICPMS, IC-ICPMS, HPLC-ICP-OES
X-ray fluorescence (energy dispersive) (EDXRF)
Cold-vapor atomic (absorption and fluorescence) spectroscopy (CVAAS and CVAFS)

Sample Preparation Equipment and Facilities

Class 10 hoods and Class 100 and 10,000 cleanrooms (metal-free)
Numerous microwave, hotblock, and water bath digestion systems
Equipment for homogenization and lyophilization

Contacts

Keith Levine [levine@rti.org]: trace metals analysis; NTP and pharmaceutical programs
Frank Weber [fxw@rti.org]: general metals analysis and instrumentation; elemental speciation
David Binstock [binnie@rti.org]: lead programs
Andrea McWilliams [acm@rti.org]: XRF programs