The 20th European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry (EWCPS) attracted around 500 attendees to Berlin, Germany, in March 2025. Delegates from around the world gathered to discuss the most recent developments in studies using techniques such as ICP-MS, LA-ICP-MS, ICP-OES, MP-AES, DCP-AES, MC-ICP-MS, TIMS, GD-MS, LIBS, or LAMIS.

The conference featured a growing number of presentations focused on single-cell and single-particle analysis. Other emerging themes included the study of contaminants such as heavy metals and microplastics in the environment, foods, and biological/clinical systems, as well as approaches to recovering technically critical elements (TCEs) from electronic waste materials.

Agilent sponsored research awards – unwavering support since 2003

For over two decades, Agilent has been instrumental in recognizing and supporting researchers in plasma spectrochemistry by sponsoring two prestigious scientific awards at the EWCPS. At this year’s conference, Yuri Tanaka, Agilent Product Marketing Manager Atomic Spectroscopy, presented the awards to the following recipients:

Two photos

Figure 1. Agilent warmly congratulate the award winners: Left: Prof. Dr. Martín Resano pictured with Yuri Tanaka, Joerg Hansmann (Agilent), and Heidi Goenaga-Infante (LGC, UK); Right: Dr. Kharmen Billimoria pictured with Yuri Tanaka, Prof Frank Vanhaecke (Ghent University), and Joerg Hansmann (Agilent).

Agilent scientific posters and lunch seminar

There were over 155 poster presentations divided into 16 categories. Agilent presented seven posters on a variety of routine and novel ICP-MS applications from measuring multiple elements in environmental samples using a highly automated method to using ICP-QQQ for the analysis of the total fluorine content of soils.

  • Automated Analysis of Low-to-High Matrix Environmental Samples Using a Single ICP-MS Method
  • Validation of the ADS 2 Device for Enhanced ICP-MS Analysis
  • Simplifying Speciation Analysis With Agilent ICP-MS and Metrohm IC
  • Measurement of Metals in Tissue Samples Using LA-ICP-MS and an Organic Matrix-Based Standard
  • Quantitative Detection of Total Fluorine of PFAS/EOF in Soil by ICP-MS/MS
  • Detection of Nanoparticle Contaminants on Wafers via spICP-MS/MS for Semiconductor Applications
  • Trace Elements Analysis in Organometallic Precursors using ICP-MS/MS

Agilent also hosted a lunchtime seminar that was well attended. Delegates gathered to hear an update on the direction of travel for Agilent ICP-MS, plus presentations by representatives from two leading European research groups. All three talks can be viewed from this link:

  • Advancements in Elemental Analysis and the Future of Agilent ICP-MS Development, presented by Yuri Tanaka, Agilent Technologies, Inc.
  • Development of a Platform for the Analysis of Microplastics: Towards Their Reliable Identification and Number-Based Quantification Determination, presented by David Ojeda, Researcher, LGC (National Measurement Laboratory), UK
  • Analysis of Marine Samples Using ICP-MS to Study Environmental Effects of Renewable Energy Production, presented by Dr. Daniel Proefrock, Head of Department Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Hereon, Germany

Analysis of poster presentations

As at previous conferences, we counted the number of posters presented by users of ICP-MS systems supplied by all the different instrument vendors. The count (Figure 2) revealed that Agilent ICP-MS and ICP-QQQ instruments are the most widely used systems for research. Half of the posters that described applications run on quadrupole ICP-MS and ICP-MS/MS systems featured Agilent systems.

Figure 2. Supplier information of ICP-MS instrumentation used in studies when cited in the posters.

Figure 2. Supplier information of ICP-MS instrumentation used in studies when cited in the posters.

The analysis also showed that most researchers using ICP-MS in their studies rely on single quadrupole systems (59%), compared to 41% who use ICP-MS/MS (Figure 3).

Figure 3. The percentage of posters using single quadrupole ICP-MS compared to triple quadrupole ICP-MS systems.

Figure 3. The percentage of posters using single quadrupole ICP-MS compared to triple quadrupole ICP-MS systems.

Furthermore, of the posters known to have used an Agilent instrument (either ICP-MS or ICP-QQQ), the majority featured some form of hyphenated technology. Figure 4 shows the mix between hyphenated and non-hyphenated applications, including the technology used. More than 70% of posters featured some form of coupled technology with both Single Particle (SP) and Laser Ablation (LA) applications sitting at joint second place after HPLC coupling. This finding highlights the exceptional flexibility of the instruments.

Figure 4. Agilent posters using hyphenated-ICP-MS techniques. Key: LC: liquid chromatography; SP: single particle; GC: gas chromatography; LA: laser ablation; CE: capillary electrophoresis..

Figure 4. Agilent posters using hyphenated-ICP-MS techniques. Key: LC: liquid chromatography; SP: single particle; GC: gas chromatography; LA: laser ablation; CE: capillary electrophoresis.

The Agilent team looks forward to seeing you at the next Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry, which will be held in Tucson, Arizona, USA from January 12 to 17, 2026.

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