2010 Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry

Fort Myers, Florida, January 4–9, 2010

What makes a conference memorable? Why did reviews of the 2010 Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry cite it as “one of the best yet”? Certainly the venue, like a beautiful winter resort in southern Florida contributes, and the training programs, technical presentations, and exhibitor displays satisfy basic needs. Furthermore, personal contacts and networking often generate research ideas, encourage collaborative developments, and stimulate problem solving.

Perhaps Professor Gary Hieftje, Indiana University, put his finger on it succinctly,¹ “All in all, the Winter Conference session on Plasma Spectrochemical Instrumentation and Microplasmas was both interesting and lively, with a host of new and unexpected findings.” Hieftje, who chaired this symposium that consisted of two invited lecturers and four contributed papers, further remarked, “The second invited lecture in this active session was one of the best presentations of the conference and was given by Edward Reszke from ERTEC-Poland. He described an amazingly large number of novel geometries capable of supporting microwave plasmas.” Hieftje then reported, “Contributed lecturers began with one by Torsten Lindemann of Thermo-Scientific. In what was perhaps the most stunning revelation of the conference, he described a new interface employed in some instruments being offered by his firm.”

Yes, that must be it: “new and unexpected” developments and results that excite the imagination and spawn research ideas. “How to accomplish this task?” one might ask.

During the 16 times the Winter Conference has convened since 1980, the daily program has featured outstanding plenary lectures highlighting the new and unexpected to open each session. For example, Les Ebdon wrote about Hieftje's Frontiers in Plasma Spectrochemistry plenary, “This exciting lecture set the scene for the Conference and affirmed Dr Heiftje's reputation as a leader in the field.” Other pioneering plenary lectures included Plasma Spectrochemical Analysis: Capabilities, Challenges, Opportunities, John W. Olesik, The Ohio State University; How Accurate Speciation Information Improves Our Mechanistic Understanding of Environmental Trace Element Biogeochemistry, Dirk Wallschläger, Trent University; Novel Avenues in Bioimaging Mass Spectrometry of the Brain for the Micrometre to Nanometre Scale, J. Sabine Becker, Research Centre Jülich; Advanced Spectrochemical Instrumentation, M. Bonner Denton, University of Arizona, and ICP-Mass Spectrometry as a Tool for Unraveling History and Crimes, Frank Vanhaecke, Ghent University.

Complimenting plenary addresses were invited lectures targeting individual symposium themes. With a total of 13 symposia, 27 invited speakers conveyed frontier developments. As demonstrated by invited lectures by Denton, Hieftje's colleagues, David Koppenaal et al. (New Directions in ICPMS Performance—Attaining Simultaneity and Resolution with New Approaches and Technology, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), and Gene Atlas (Advanced Optical Sensor Designs for Analytical Spectroscopy, ImagerLabs) advanced solid-state ion detection and ultra high-resolution plasma mass spectrometry appear poised for the next plasma instrumentation breakthrough.

For the first time a symposium highlighting Nanomaterial Analysis and Characterization, co-chaired by Erik H. Larsen and Petra Krystek, featured invited lectures Chemical Characterization of Nanoparticles by ICP Spectrometry, Kay Niemax, et al., ISAS-Dortmund; Characterization of Nanoparticles by Plasma Spectroscopy: Hyphenated and Time-Resolved Approaches, James F. Ranville, et al., Colorado School of Mines, and Detection and Imaging of Nanoparticles in Biological Samples, Erik H. Larsen, et al., Technical University of Denmark. Larsen and Krystek summarized, “The width of subjects within the nanomaterials area suggest that analytical nanoscience has come to stay also in future Winter Plasma Conferences on Spectrochemistry.”

Three afternoon workshops (Elemental Speciation Methodology, David W. Koppenaal; Clinical Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, Patrick J. Parsons; New Plasma Instrumentation, Gerhard Meyer, chair) completed the oral presentations, and four poster sessions complimented the symposia. Patrick Parsons commented, “The idea for an afternoon workshop devoted primarily to clinical applications of ICP-MS grew out of the recognition that there is an abundance of contributed papers from those working in public health and clinical laboratories, as well as in academia, where ICP-MS has become a critical tool used for assessing human exposure to various trace elements. The Winter Conference has become the ideal scientific meeting for members of the ‘clinical’ ICP-MS community”.

In total more than 300 oral and poster presentations were given by over 200 invited and contributing authors. Twelve outstanding posters were awarded prizes contributed by Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Applied Isotope Technologies, CEM Corporation, CETAC, Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, and ICP Information Newsletter.

Also new to the 2010 Winter Conference was the introduction of special presentations emphasizing the legacy of plasma spectrochemistry. Six Heritage Lectures featured senior researchers, who reviewed their research and development experiences and illustrated many changes in plasma spectrochemistry during the past decades. These sessions were chaired by close colleagues and financially supported by dedicated sponsors, who made travel and accommodations for the heritage lecturers possible. This mixture of new and old preserves the legacy and inspires the imagination.

The first Heritage Lecture From Academic Research to Real World Problems (and Vice Versa) delivered by Jean-Michel Mermet, Spectroscopy Forever, was sponsored by Meinhard Glass Products and introduced by José Luis Todolí, who wrote, “Jean-Michel Mermet … enormously contributed to our research field”. Todolí continued, “The lecture was not only focused on an overview of Jean-Michel's career, but he also tried to give us some highly valuable advice. These went from how to choose a given research subject to what are the most important aspects that have to be considered for successful research”.

James D. Winefordner, University of Florida, delivered the second Heritage Lecture Over 50 Years of Atomic Spectroscopy, sponsored by Applied Spectra, Inc. and introduced by Nicoló Omenetto and Richard Russo, who wrote, “The presentation revealed the essential aspects that have permeated all of Jim's activity and life as a researcher and as a teacher.” They continued, “As a researcher, he showed how an unusual intuition for new developments led to an impressive variety of research ideas and themes, which have resulted during the years into successful methodologies, novel applications and advancement of fundamental spectroscopic knowledge. It was also clear how Jim's human attitude was the central focus of attraction of an incredible number of graduate students, post-docs and visiting scientists from all over the world. It is no mystery that Jim considers himself first a teacher and then a researcher.”

Some Memories of 20 Years of Development and Application of ICP Emission Spectrometry were recalled by Knut D. Ohls, Dortmund, Germany, in the third Heritage Lecture, sponsored by Spetec GmbH and introduced by José A.C. Broekaert, who commented, “In his lecture he showed with many anecdotes … research and practical use of ICP spectrometry in the steel mill laboratory as well as the development of this field. A lively report was also given on his innovative work with respect to tailoring sample introduction to the samples … as well as work on speciation of metals in alloys by chemical procedures and ICP atomic spectrometry.” He continued, “The lecture impressively showed long-time concepts followed for the introduction of ICP atomic emission spectrometry in the analytical laboratories of the metallurgical industry.”

Klaus G. Heumann, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, discussed Isotope Ratio Measurements: Highlights, Pitfalls, Frustrations–40 Years of Experience in the Field. Burgener Research sponsored the Heritage Lecture, which was introduced by Norbert Jakubowski, who commented, “Klaus Heuman … was honored by this heritage lecture for his life-long contributions in analytical chemistry, for his excellent teaching qualities, and for his enthusiasm in research, focusing on practical solutions even in the case of complex problems. Through his positive way of thinking he has motivated many young people including the chairman of this session.” He concluded, “What most students (and some of the participants) learned from this lecture was the take home message: ‘Believe in your own measurement and not only in what your tutor says, and never give up!’”

Introduced by Joseph A. Caruso the fifth Heritage Lecture was presented by Fred L. Fricke, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, who reviewed Thirty-Seven Years of Plasma Spectrochemistry at FDA's Elemental Analysis Research/Forensic Chemistry Center. Fricke discussed the impressive past, present, and future role of plasma spectrochemistry at the FDA EARC/FCC.

Introduced by Volker Hoffmann and R. Kenneth Marcus as the start of the symposium on Advanced Materials, Surfaces, and Interfaces, the concluding Heritage Lecture sponsored by LECO Corporation The Glow Discharge: A Splendidly Versatile Source was presented by Willard W. Harrison, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, who wrote: “The glow discharge appears to be limited only by our imagination of its spectroscopic possibilities”.

Also new was the introduction of the biennial Winter Conference Award in Plasma Spectrochemistry, sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific and presentation to the Conference Chairman, Professor Ramon Barnes. Nominations for the 2012 award are now open (http://www.thermo.com/wpcaward).

The Winter Conference thus continues as unique in the field of plasma spectrochemistry touching topics from laser ablation, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, sample introduction and fundamental studies to elemental speciation and many applications ranging from the environment and geochemistry to pharmaceuticals and petroleum.¹The series will carry on with the 13th European Winter Conference in Zaragoza, Spain, January 31–February 4, 2011, and the Fourth Asia-Pacific meeting in Chengdu, China, in November 26–30, 2010. The 2012 Winter Conference is planned for January 9–14 in Tucson, Arizona. The task of making the Winter Conference memorable challenges the best meeting planners.

Reference

1. 2010 Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry, ICP Inform. Newsl., January 2010, 35(8), pp. 1089–1311.

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