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Platinum crucibles are known for their excellent resistance to chemical attacks by acids and fusion mixtures and are crucial tools in many scientific experiments. They are widely used in many fields due to their high ductility, corrosion and oxidation resistance, and ability to withstand high temperatures. Common applications of platinum crucibles include digestion ash testing, loss on ignition (LOI) analysis, and sample preparation for fusion samples. However, for these tools to provide optimal results, they must be adequately cleaned. In this blog post, we will discuss the methods and procedures for effectively cleaning a platinum crucible, ensuring accurate and reliable results.

What Methods Can Be Used to...

Calibration is an essential part of analytical chemistry because it enables scientists to check equipment is functioning correctly and produces accurate results. With regard to inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy, this analytical method is used to identify major compounds and trace elements in chemical samples by ionising them. Once ionised, ions are separated according to their mass-to-charge ratios, and the concentration of each element can be determined. Without calibrating ICP spectrometers, analysis results could be inaccurate or contaminated, leading to further problems such as unsafe laboratory equipment and unreproducible data. 

For ICP calibration to be successful, reference materials are r...

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is a widely used analytical technique that offers powerful analysis in many fields, with environmental science, geology, and materials science being key. Calibration is crucial for XRF instruments because it ensures they can be used to take accurate measurements and produce reliable results based on a sample. This calibration is conducted with reference materials, which are highly characterized samples of a known composition used to evaluate processes and product performance.1

The question is often asked whether scientists can create their own reference materials, and the answer is more complex than some would like. Throughout this blog post, we w...