Nutrient Profiling
Instrumentation
The Agilent 7850 ICP-MS offers distinct advantages over other instrument suppliers like those employing Ultra High Matrix Introduction (UHMI) systems, such as handling matrix levels up to 25% Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). While UHMI systems excel in handling high matrix samples, the Agilent instrument surpasses in sensitivity, accuracy, and versatility for trace element analysis in the cannabis industry.
Its superior sensitivity allows for the detection of trace elements at extremely low concentrations, even in complex matrices like cannabis extracts. Additionally, the Agilent 7850 ICP-MS ensures reliable and reproducible results crucial for regulatory compliance and product quality assurance, making it the preferred choice for cannabis testing laboratories. With its robustness and user-friendly operation, the Agilent 7850 ICP-MS stands out as the instrument of choice for trace element analysis, providing unparalleled performance and reliability in demanding analytical environments.
ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) more generally is a powerful analytical technique used in the cannabis industry to detect and quantify trace elements in cannabis products. In this context, cannabis samples are first prepared by digesting them into a solution, which is then introduced into an argon plasma generated by an ICP torch. The intense heat of the plasma ionizes the atoms in the sample, converting them into positively charged ions.
These ions are then extracted and introduced into a mass spectrometer, where they are separated based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). This separation allows for the identification and quantification of individual elements present in the sample. By measuring the abundance of ions at specific mass-to-charge ratios, ICP-MS provides highly sensitive and accurate detection of trace elements in cannabis, including heavy metals and other contaminants.
ICP-MS is particularly valuable in the cannabis industry for ensuring product safety and compliance with regulatory standards. By monitoring trace elements in cannabis products, ICP-MS helps to identify potential health hazards and ensure that products meet quality and safety requirements for consumer consumption. Overall, ICP-MS plays a critical role in quality control and assurance in the cannabis industry, providing reliable and precise analysis of trace elements to ensure product safety and compliance.
Nutrient Profiling Tehniques
ICP-MS and the Elementar Rapid N Exceed are essential tools for nutrient detection in plants:
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- ICP-MS excels at identifying trace elements and heavy metals, using plasma to ionize the sample and a mass spectrometer for precise quantification.
- Elementar Rapid N Exceed focuses on nitrogen analysis using the Dumas combustion method, which quickly burns the sample to measure nitrogen content.
Together, these instruments provide a detailed profile of both macro and micronutrients, crucial for optimizing plant health and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Instrumentation
ICP-MS is like a super-sensitive scanner that checks cannabis for tiny bits of stuff that could be harmful, like heavy metals. It works by turning cannabis into a liquid and zapping it with a super hot plasma to see what's inside. This helps make sure cannabis products are safe to use by checking for any sneaky stuff that shouldn't be there.
Instrumentation
The Elementar Rapid N Exceed uses the Dumas combustion method to measure total nitrogen in samples like plant tissue.
Here's how it works:
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1. Sample Preparation: A small sample is placed in a tin capsule.
2. Combustion: The sample is burned at high temperatures in pure oxygen, converting nitrogen into nitrogen gas (N2).
3. Detection: Nitrogen gas is measured using detectors that assess its thermal conductivity.
The Dumas method is quick, requires minimal sample preparation, and is highly accurate, making it ideal for environmental, agricultural, and food testing, including regulatory compliance and nutrient management in cannabis cultivation.
