This course provides an introduction to Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) techniques, focusing on their theoretical foundations, instrumental configurations, and applications in chemical, biological, and pharmaceutical research. Students will first explore the physico-chemical principles governing plasma generation, atomization, and ionization processes that underpin ICP-based elemental analysis. The course then examines the architecture and operation of ICP instruments, including plasma sources, sample introduction systems, and detection modules, with attention to differences between ICP-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and ICP-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). A dedicated section will address sample preparation strategies, emphasizing matrix effects, contamination control, and optimization procedures for complex biological and pharmaceutical samples. Through selected case studies, participants will learn how to apply ICP methods for trace element determination, impurity profiling, and quality control in the context of drug innovation.
- Docente: Ivana Miletto