Elemental Analysis typically involves a two-step process:

Sample Preparation - Fuels, Lubricants and Industrial Wastes cannot be injected directly into the testing instruments used for elemental analysis. These samples must first be prepared by one of several techniques to be brought to a suitable form and at a suitable concentration.

First, it is necessary to decide on the objective of the analysis. Sometimes it is the total solids in a sample that is the desired objective. Other specifications may require only the analysis of suspended solids. These conditions must be defined before steps are taken to prepare the sample.

The next consideration is the means by which the sample will be prepared for injection. Typical techniques are acid digestions, microwave digestion, acid extractions, or solvent extractions.

The instrument selected for elemental analysis will generally determine the limit of detection or LOD that can be achieved. Sometimes a general scan at about an LOD = 5 ppm is satisfactory for trend analysis of in-service lubricants.

Other instruments provide a capability to 1 ppm, 0.05 ppm, 0.01 ppm, and 0.001 ppm (1ppb) (1 mg/Liter).

Some instruments for elemental analysis operate in scanning mode and will detect several elements of importance. Sometimes the same instruments can be used to focus on a single element to provide a lower limit of detection.

Elemental Analysis also includes: