A financial model was developed to help the metals labo- ratory using graphite furnace atomic absorption and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy calculate the potential savings by switching to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results based on several typical laboratory examples are presented.
This document presents a financial model developed to help metals laboratories calculate potential savings by switching from graphite furnace atomic absorption (GFAA) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The study compares the relative cost and productivity of these techniques across several typical laboratory scenarios.
| GFAA System Cost | US$30K |
|---|---|
| ICP-OES System Cost | US$100K |
| ICP-MS System Cost | US$180K |
| Cost of Funds | 6% |
| GFAA Analysis Time | 90 seconds per element |
| GFAA Argon Consumption | 40 hours per cylinder |
| ICP-MS Detector Lifetime | 3 years |
The model assumes a GFAA system costs US$30K.
The cost for an ICP-OES system is estimated at US$100K.
The ICP-MS system is assumed to cost US$180K.
The typical analysis time is 90 seconds per element.