Required skills

Required skills include

establishing client needs for routine and nonroutine samples

interpreting client requests test methods and procedures accurately

selecting adapting and modifying standard test methods for unknown samples

preparing samples and standards optimising procedures and equipment to suit sampletest requirements

setting up starting up and shutting down equipment

checking the calibrationqualification status of equipment

selecting configuring checking and optimising instrument subsystems

performing routine instrument maintenance and replacement of consumables

obtaining valid and reliable data

calculating analyte concentrations with appropriate accuracy precision uncertainty and units

recognising atypical dataresults and troubleshooting common analytical procedure and equipment problems

recording and reporting dataresults using enterprise procedures

maintaining security integrity and traceability of samples and documentation

assessing risks applying specified control measures and working safely

minimising waste and ensuring safe collection and disposal of waste materials

applying relevant principles of good laboratory practice GLP procedures

maintaining technical knowledge by accessing journals technical updates suppliers product notes and test methods

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

sample preparation procedures including specialised techniques such as

handling unstablehazardous chemicals and samples and fragilelabile biological material

treatment of samples with high dissolved solids or high viscosity

filtration or centrifugation to remove particulates

open and closed wet chemical digestion and microwave digestion

alkali fusion of geological samples

contamination control and ultratrace analysis requirements such as

prevention of airborne contamination with filtered air systems and clean rooms

preparation of ultra pure acids and reagents

cleaning and storage of glass and plastic ware

prevention of personal contamination of samples by exposure to analyst

atomisation and ionisation mechanisms within inductively coupled plasmas

effects of plasma temperature and stability on atomisation singledouble ionisation recombination and matrix decomposition

isobaric interferences due to combinations of isotopes of argon plasma gas oxygen sample solution or chloride matrix components with themselves or other elements

calculations involving

concentration and dilution

uncertainties

limit of detection limit of quantitation and their application to quality control procedures

operation construction selectivity typical applications troubleshooting and routine maintenance of ICPAESOES and ICPMS systems including details such as

design and operation of nebulisers and characteristics such as aerosol efficiency dissolved solid tolerance and selfaspiration

laser ablation of solid samples into aerosol form

design and operation of spray chambers and effects on sample flow sensitivity plasma loading from larger droplets

design and operation of plasma torches eg tube diameter sampling depth radio frequency RF source and effects on energy transfer plasma stability aerosol flow and density matrix decomposition deposition on the interface polyatomic ion interferences and implications for cleaning

axialradial torch configurations

design of sampleskimmer cones at plasmavacuum interface and effects on sensitivity mass response oxide and doubly charged ion formation and loading on vacuum system

operation of rotary and turbomolecular pumps and valves to provide high vacuum typical pressures and flow rates

design and operation of electrostatic ion lenses to separate analyte ions from neutral species and photons to minimise background signal

use of collisionreaction cells to remove interfering polyatomic ions

atomicoptical emission spectroscopy detectors AES or OES transfer optics diffraction gratings monochromators and polychromators photomultipliers and charge coupled devices

MS eg quadrupole magnetic sector sector field ion trap and time of flight mass analysers electron multipliers with pulse andor analogue modes for ion detection measurements including selective ion monitoring SIM time resolved analysis isotope ratio measurements and full scanmultielement analysis

sources of AESOES spectral interferences such as

viscosity of sample

spectral overlap

ionisation

sources of MS spectral interferences such as

isobaric interferences eg Fe and Ni

polyatomic ions originating in gas sample or matrix eg ArCl and As CaO and Ni

doubly charged ions such as Ba interfering with Cu Zn Zn Zn

computer control software for operating and optimising instrument

procedures for optimising instrument ICPAESOES or ICPMSperformance such as

effects of adjusting gas flow rates torch residence time

investigation of plasma powertemperature on ionisation of analyte and interfering ions

optimising interface between ICP and MS detector eg alignment of sampleskimmer cones and ion lens adjustment

optimising plasma viewing height and for individual wavelengths for ICPAESOES

use of manualcomputer calibration charts andor standards to identify and quantify analytes such as

external calibration with or without internal standardisation

method of standard additions

semiquantitative analysis

isotope ratio measurements

isotope dilution

calculation steps to give results in appropriate units and precision

troubleshooting and maintenance procedures recommended by instrument manufacturer

enterprise andor legal traceability requirements

relevant health safety and environment requirements

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors should ensure that candidates can

interpret client requests test methods and procedures accurately

select operate and maintain sample introduction and detector subsystems

install ICP instrument subsystems such as torch nebuliser and spray chamber

safely set up start up and shut down instrument using enterprise procedures

prepare samples and calibration standards in accordance with test method

check calibrationqualification status of equipment

optimise instrument subsystems and procedures and equipment to suit sampletest requirements

operate equipment to obtain valid and reliable data

use software to identify analytes and calculate concentrations with appropriate accuracy precision and units

recognise atypical dataresults

troubleshoot common analytical procedure and equipment problems

record and report dataresults using enterprise procedures

maintain security integrity and traceability of samples and documentation

follow OHS procedures and principles of GLP

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment

This unit of competency may be assessed with

MSLA Evaluate and select appropriate test methods and procedures

MSL976003A Evaluate and select appropriate test methods and procedures

MSLA Contribute to the validation of test methods

MSL977003A Contribute to the validation of test methods

MSLA Develop or adapt analyses and procedures

MSL977004A Develop or adapt analyses and procedures.

Resources may include

laboratory with specialised analytical instruments

laboratory reagents and equipment

SOPs and test methods

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of test dataresultscalibration graphs obtained by the candidate over time to ensure accuracy validity precision and timeliness of results

inspection of results and technical records eg maintenance schedules and quality control logbooks completed by the candidate

observation of candidate using ICP instruments to measure analytes

feedback from clients peers and supervisors

oral or written questioning of relevant ICP spectroscopy concepts chemical principles underpinning sample preparation and separation of species instrument design and optimisation analytical techniques and enterprise procedures

In all cases practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly

Where applicable reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity age gender demographics and disability

Access must be provided to appropriate learning andor assessment support when required

The language literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work like environment

This competency in practice

Industry representatives have provided the case studies below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting

Food processing

A technician is analysing trace metals in red wine Heshe knows from experience that the ethanol in the wine will extinguish the torch even under standard operating conditions The technician has four possible remedies

Dilute the sample solution

Boil the ethanol off

Adjust the torch operating conditions

Change the sample introduction equipment

Heshe considers factors such as the number of samples to be analysed and the likely analyte concentrations and searches the literature for recommended remedial actions The technician decides to start by increasing the torch power from to KW and tuning the gas flow rates through the torch until the plasma is stable with normal sample introduction

Environmental testing

A technician receives a series of stream water samples from a client to test for elemental arsenic As The client advises the laboratory that they have acidified the samples as per the standard method to preserve the integrity of the sample during transit Assuming that the client has used HNO to bring the pH of the samples down to the technician proceeds with the ICPMS analysis However the technician soon realises that the client has used HCl because there is overwhelming interference between ArCl and As The clean up takes a considerable time and to prevent a recurrence of the problem the laboratory now conducts rapid tests for chlorides in all water samples before ICPMS analysis

Environmental testing

A technician receives a telephone call from a client requesting more information about the laboratorys ability to provide ICPAES multielement analysis of dry plant material as listed on the company website The technician explains how the laboratory uses a dry ash method and requires about mg of sample The technician briefly outlines how the samples are ashed in a silica crucible that is covered to prevent any contamination The ash is then equilibrated with mL of HCl at room temperature for minutes before having mL of deionised water added gently swirled and then allowed to settle for three hours The solution is then decanted into mL plastic disposable tubes for direct determination by ICPAES The client mentions that they are particularly interested in the presence of Fe Al and Cr and the technician notes that in this case the laboratory usually refluxes the ash in HCl to improve the recovery of these elements The technician also advises the client that the laboratory reports elemental determinations as ppm on a weight elementdry sample weight basis and that ICP values are expressed on an atomic weight basis not as any other molecular species

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

ICP instruments and techniques

Testing that uses ICP spectroscopy

Presumptive tests

Sample and standard preparation

Pre-use, calibration and safety checks

Instrumental parameters

Common analytical procedure problems and remedies

Common equipment problems

Hazards

Addressing hazards

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements