What is the Difference Between ICP-AES and ICP-MS

The key difference between ICP-AES and ICP-MS is that ICP-AES provides a higher detection limit down to ppm or ppb, whereas ICP-MS provides a lower detection limit down to ppt (part per trillion).

ICP-AES is an analytical technique that depends on the principles of atomic spectroscopy for the determination of more than 70 elements with the detection limits in the unit of ppm (parts per million) or ppb (parts per billion). ICP-MS is an analytical technique that uses an inductively coupled plasma to ionize the sample.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is ICP-AES  
3. What is ICP-MS
4. ICP-AES vs ICP-MS in Tabular Form
5. Summary – ICP-AES and ICP-MS 

What is ICP-AES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy)?

ICP-AES is an analytical technique that depends on the principles of atomic spectroscopy for the determination of more than 70 elements with the detection limits in the unit of ppm or ppb. The term ICP-AES stands for inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. It is also known as ICP-OES or inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. It is an analytical technique useful for the detection of chemical elements.

This instrument is a type of emission spectroscopy that makes use of inductively coupled plasma for the production of excited atoms and ions that can emit electromagnetic radiation at characteristic wavelength values of a certain element. Typically, the plasma is an ionized source gas such as argon at high temperatures. This plasma is usually sustained and maintained by inductive coupling from cooled electrical coils at very high frequencies.

What is ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry)?

ICP-MS is an analytical technique that uses an inductively coupled plasma to ionize the sample. The term ICP-MS stands for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. This instrument can atomize the sample, and it can create atomic and small polyatomic ions that we can detect. This method is useful for its ability to detect different metals and several nonmetals existing in liquid samples at a very low concentration. Moreover, ICP-MS can detect different isotopes of the same element, which can make it a versatile tool for the isotopic labeling process.

In comparison to atomic absorption spectroscopy, this technique shows a greater speed, precision, and sensitivity. However, unlike in many other mass spectrometric methods, this technique introduces various interfering substances such as argon from the plasma, contaminations from glassware, etc.

What is the Difference Between ICP-AES and ICP-MS?

Both ICP-AES and ICP-MS are important analytical techniques we can use to analyze and detect components that are in a particular sample. ICP-AES is an analytical technique that depends on the principles of atomic spectroscopy for the determination of more than 70 elements with the detection limits in the unit of ppm or ppb. ICP-MS is an analytical technique that uses an inductively coupled plasma to ionize the sample. The key difference between ICP-AES and ICP-MS is that ICP-AES provides a higher detection limit down to ppm or ppb, whereas ICP-MS provides a lower detection limit down to ppt.

The below infographic presents the differences between ICP-AES and ICP-MS in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – ICP-AES vs ICP-MS

ICP-AES is an analytical technique that depends on the principles of atomic spectroscopy for the determination of more than 70 elements with the detection limits in the unit of ppm or ppb. ICP-MS is an analytical technique that uses an inductively coupled plasma to ionize the sample. The key difference between ICP-AES and ICP-MS is that ICP-AES provides a higher detection limit down to ppm or ppb, whereas ICP-MS provides a lower detection limit down to ppt.

Reference:

1. “Environmental Solutions.” Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES), 2 Sept. 2021.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Spectrometer ICP-OES” By Karel at Czech Wikipedia – Transferred from cs.wikipedia to Commons. (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “ICP-MS” By Karelj – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia