RJ Lee Group uses ICP-AES for:

Industrial Hygiene
Analyze airborne metals in workplace exposure assessments using various OSHA and NIOSH methods. Utilizing hydrofluoric acid (HF) in a modified version of the NIOSH 7300 method to enhance the digestion and analysis of compounds such as aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), titanium oxide (TiO₂) and Tungsten (W).

These oxides are typically resistant to conventional acid digestion techniques, but HF effectively breaks down their crystalline structures, allowing for accurate quantification of elemental aluminum and titanium using ICP-AES. This approach is particularly valuable in industrial hygiene assessments where precise detection of airborne particulates containing these compounds is critical.

Environmental Monitoring
Analyze a wide range of environmental matrices—including soil, water, paint, and surface wipes—for the presence of elemental pollutants such as aluminum, calcium iron, lead, magnesium, etc.

Characterizing raw materials and byproducts
Industries such as coal-fired power generation, chemical manufacturing, and materials processing produce a variety of residual and byproduct materials—including coal combustion residuals (CCRs) like fly ash and bottom ash, synthetic gypsum derived from flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems, ceramics, polymers, and particulate matter collected from industrial dust control systems. 

These materials often contain complex mixtures of trace and major elements—such as arsenic, selenium, mercury, aluminum, calcium, and silicon—that can influence their environmental impact, recyclability, and suitability for reuse in construction or manufacturing.

Support product development and quality control
ICP plays a critical role in manufacturing applications, particularly in the characterization and quality control of materials such as specialty glass and medical-grade components. For glass manufacturing, ICP-AES enables precise quantification of trace and major elements like silicon, boron, sodium, calcium, and transition metals.

In the medical device sector, the technique is used to analyze materials such as silicone elastomers and titanium alloys, ensuring biocompatibility and compliance with stringent regulatory standards. This elemental profiling supports both raw material validation and final product certification, helping manufacturers maintain consistency, safety, and performance across production batches

Ensure regulatory compliance with EPA, AIHA, FCC, USP and industry-specific standards.

Consumer Product Safety
ICP is employed to screen for regulated elements in consumer products such as paints, coatings, and household goods, ensuring compliance with safety standards set by agencies like the Consumer Product Safety Commission, EPA, and international bodies such as RoHS. This includes the detection and quantification of toxic metals like lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and chromium (Cr), which may pose health risks through dermal contact, inhalation, or ingestion.

The technique provides high sensitivity and multi-element capability, allowing for rapid assessment of complex matrices. In paints and coatings, helps identify heavy metal pigments or additives, while in household goods—such as toys, electronics, and cookware—it supports material safety evaluations and product recalls. This analytical approach is essential for manufacturers, importers, and regulatory bodies to ensure that products entering the market are safe for consumers and environmentally compliant.

Support other Departments within RJ Lee Group

• Construction Materials Testing - Assess cement, concrete, and aggregate for elemental consistency and performance.
  
  
• Corrosion and Failure Analysis - Identify elemental signatures associated with material degradation in infrastructure and manufacturing.

Our lab integrates ICP-AES with ICP-MS and other techniques to provide comprehensive elemental profiles across a wide range of matrices.