sporstoffanalyser

Sporstoffanalyser, or trace element analysis, refers to analytical techniques and instruments used to detect and quantify very small concentrations of elements in samples. The term is commonly used in Norwegian and Danish contexts to describe measurements of metals and metalloids present at trace levels, often ranging from parts per million down to parts per billion or lower, depending on the element and matrix.

The field relies on several core instrumental approaches. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) are widely used for multi-element determination with high sensitivity. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), including flame AAS and graphite furnace AAS, remains common for specific elements. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is valuable for rapid, non-destructive analysis of solids. Other methods include neutron activation analysis (NAA) and laser or spark ablation techniques for solid samples. Each method has particular strengths in sensitivity, speed, and sample type.

Applications of sporstoffanalyser span environmental monitoring (water, soil, sediments), food and nutrition safety, clinical and biomedical research, geology and mining, and materials science. Sample preparation—often digestion of solids or concentration of solutions—is critical to accuracy and can introduce matrix effects. Quality assurance and control are essential, including the use of certified reference materials, calibration strategies, and method validation.

Recent trends include portable XRF for field measurements, advances in isotope ratio analysis, and the development of multi-element workflows that improve throughput, accuracy, and lower detection limits.