2014 Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry

Plasma Spectrochemistry for Trace Element, Stable Isotope, and Elemental Speciation Analyses

The 2014 Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry, eighteenth in a series of biennial meetings sponsored by the ICP Information Newsletter, features developments in plasma spectrochemical analysis by inductively coupled plasma (ICP), dc plasma (DCP), microwave plasma (MIP), glow discharge (GDL, HCL), and laser sources. The meeting will be held Monday, January 6 through Saturday, January 11, 2014, on Amelia Island, Florida (www.ameliaisland.com) at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort (www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/AmeliaIsland.aspx). Continuing education short courses at introductory and advanced levels and manufacturers' seminars will be offered Friday through Monday, January 3–6. Spectroscopic instrumentation and accessories will be shown during a three-day exhibition from January 7–9, and workshops on New Plasma Instrumentation, Clinical ICP-MS, and Elemental Speciation methodology will be presented on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. A golf tournament will be held on Sunday, January 5.

Objectives and Program

The continued growth in popularity of plasma sources for atomization and excitation in atomic spectroscopy and ionization in mass spectrometry and the need to discuss recent developments of these discharges in spectrochemical analysis stimulated the organization of this meeting. The Conference will bring together international scientists experienced in applications, instrumentation, and theory in an informal setting to examine recent progress in the field. Approximately 600 participants from 30 countries are expected to attend.

Over 300 papers describing applications, fundamentals, and instrumental developments with plasma sources will be presented in lecture and poster sessions by more than 200 authors. Symposia organized and chaired by recognized experts will include the following topics: 1) Sample introduction and transport phenomena; Micronebulization and flow processing spectrochemical analysis; 2) Nanomaterial analysis and characterization; 3) Elemental speciation and sample preparation for speciation; 4) Plasma instrumentation, including advanced detectors, chemometrics, expert systems, online analysis, microplasmas, software, and remote-system automation; 5) Sample preparation, treatment and automation; 6) Excitation mechanisms, plasma phenomena and modeling; 7) Spectroscopic standards and reference materials, and high-purity materials; 8) Plasma source mass spectrometry; 9) Glow discharge atomic and mass spectrometry; 10) Stable isotope analyses; 11) Laser-assisted plasma spectrometry; 12) Advanced materials bulk and surface characterization, and 13) Novel plasma spectrochemical applications. Six plenary and 24 invited lectures will highlight advances in these areas. Four afternoon poster sessions will feature applications, automation, and new instrumentation. Six Heritage Lectures will be presented by distinguished scientists and investigators, who have contributed significantly to the development of plasma spectrochemistry and will address critical development areas in sample introduction, instrumentation, elemental speciation, plasma source mass spectrometry, and novel software and hardware. Plenary, invited, and submitted papers will be published in September 2014 after peer review as the official Conference proceedings.