ESAS 2014 - Programme posters

Significance of Topic

The poster sessions held on March 17–18 provided a comprehensive overview of current advances in elemental and molecular analysis, highlighting the critical role of sensitive, selective and high-throughput methods in environmental monitoring, food safety, materials characterization and biomedical research.

Objectives and Overview

These sessions brought together over 100 poster contributions organized into atomic absorption, emission and mass spectrometric techniques, laser-based methods, spectroscopic approaches and sample preparation technologies. The goal was to foster exchange of novel extraction schemes, instrumentation improvements and data interpretation strategies among academic and industrial researchers.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• Atomic Absorption (AAS, HR-CS GF-AAS, ETV-ICP-OES)
• Inductively Coupled Plasma Techniques (ICP-OES, ICP-MS, LA-ICP-MS)
• Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Solid Sampling ETV-ICP-AES
• Extraction/Preconcentration (cloud point, ion-imprinted polymers, emulsion breaking, dispersed particle)
• X-Ray Fluorescence (TXRF, XRF)
• Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF, LDI-TOF, GC/MS, HPLC-MS, TIMS)
• Speciation Tools (hydride generation, size-exclusion chromatography, isotope dilution)
• Imaging and Mapping (elemental imaging in plants, geological samples, road dust and tissues)

Key Findings and Discussion

Novel sample introduction and modifier strategies showed enhanced detection limits for trace metals in complex matrices (oils, soils, catalysts, food products). Advances in ion-imprinted polymers and magnetic nanoparticles improved selectivity for noble metals. Cryogenic traps, sapphire tube atomizers and fast temperature programs optimized hydride and vapor generation. Laser-based techniques achieved elemental mapping at micro-scale, while coupling with µCT enabled 3D chemical visualization. Comparative studies underlined trade-offs between extraction efficiency, speed and green chemistry metrics.

Benefits and Practical Applications

These developments support rapid on-site screening of contaminants, quality control in pharmaceutical and food industries, monitoring of catalytic processes, and forensic or archaeological sample analysis. Improved sensitivity and speciation capacity enable better risk assessment of toxic elements and tracking of nutrient uptake in biological systems.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Integration of machine learning for spectral interpretation, miniaturized field-deployable instruments, calibration-free LIBS, and nano-enabled preconcentration are expected to drive the next generation of analytical workflows. Coupling multi-modal imaging with real-time mass spectrometry will expand applications in environmental forensics and precision agriculture.

Conclusion

The poster sessions underscored rapid progress in instrumentation, sample preparation and data processing for trace element and molecular analysis. Collaborative efforts will continue to refine analytical performance, reduce analysis time and broaden practical impact across diverse scientific and industrial sectors.