Peptidetesting

Back to the glossary

Analysis

ICP-OES

ICP-OES is a laboratory technique for detecting and measuring trace amounts of elemental impurities, such as heavy metals, in a sample. It can support checks for toxic metal contamination in products, but it cannot identify the actual molecular structure of a substance.

Also called: Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy, ICP-AES, Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy) is a sensitive elemental analysis method used to detect trace metal impurities, including heavy metals, in a sample. In your lab report, these results identify specific metals and their precise concentrations, helping you verify the purity and safety of the tested substance.

ICP-OES identifies metals by measuring element-specific light signatures

The ICP-OES process works by converting a liquid sample into a fine mist and injecting it into extremely hot argon plasma. This intense heat causes the atoms to emit light at unique wavelengths specific to each element. By measuring this light, the instrument identifies which metals are present and quantifies their exact levels with high precision.

Interpretation limits and common confusions in metal testing

  • ICP-OES measures inorganic metals, such as lead, arsenic, and mercury, as well as catalyst residues.
  • The method cannot identify a peptide's chemical structure or detect organic impurities.
  • Metal contamination poses toxicity risks, can decompose the product over time, and may cause false positives in biological testing.
  • ICP-OES serves as a modern regulatory standard for testing elemental safety.
  • It is often confused with ICP-MS; both use plasma, but ICP-OES measures emitted light while ICP-MS measures ion mass.
  • ICP-MS is more sensitive than ICP-OES, detecting parts-per-trillion (ppt).

Sources

  1. Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy as a Tool for Evaluating Lateral Flow Assays
  2. Metal Impurities Cause False Positives in High-Throughput Screening Campaigns
  3. Analysis of Elemental Impurities in Drug Products Using the iCAP 7400 ICP-OES Duo
  4. ICP-OES Principle | Fundamentals of ICP-OES Analysis
  5. What Is ICP-OES? Principles & Technique | Agilent
  6. ICP-OES, ICP-MS and AAS Techniques Compared
  7. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy - Wikipedia
  8. Development and validation of an ICP-OES method for quantitation of elemental impurities in tablets according to coming US pharmacopeia chapters - ScienceDirect
  9. Inductively Coupled Plasma/Optical Emission Spectrometry
  10. ICP-OES as a Viable Alternative to ICP-MS for Trace Analysis: Meeting the Detection Limits Challenge
  11. Using ICP-MS and ICP-OES to Measure Trace Elemental Impurities in Pharmaceuticals in Compliance with Proposed Pharmacopeia Chapters | Spectroscopy Online
  12. Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) Information | Thermo Fisher Scientific - RU
  13. Addressing Elemental Impurity Limits with ICP–OES and ICP–MS | Pharmaceutical Technology
  14. Lab Spectrometer Comparison - When to Choose ICP-AES, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, or AAS - Drawell
  15. Comparison of Atomic Spectroscopy Techniques and the Advantages of ICP-MS vs AA & ICP-OES
  16. Heavy Metals Testing via ICP/MS
  17. Validating ICP-MS for the Analysis of Elemental Impurities According to Draft USP General Chapters <232> and <233> | Spectroscopy Online
  18. Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy - an overview