Winter Plasma Conference 2026 — Tucson, AZ
Glass Expansion made a strong showing at the Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry at the El Conquistador Resort in Tucson, Arizona. Our exhibition ran January 12–15 and featured two poster presentations on January 14 and a Lunch-and-Learn workshop on January 15.
Workshop: “Mastering Sample Introduction for Optimal ICP-OES and ICP-MS Performance”
Up to 95% of analytical problems originate in the sample introduction system. Our workshop delivered practical strategies for choosing the right nebulizer, spray chamber, and accessories based on specific sample matrices. Attendees learned to quickly diagnose common issues that cause drift and downtime, and how to deploy specialized accessories to eliminate them.
The session wrapped with an introduction to several new product innovations.
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Pittcon 2026 & ICP Alley Webinar Series
ICP Alley returned to Pittcon 2026 stronger than ever, and the response confirmed that this hands-on hub has become a must-visit destination for ICP specialists. Vistors were provided targeted technical support, real-world troubleshooting, and expert-led sessions tailored to analysts in the field.
Symposium: “Elements Matter: Streamlining Trace Elemental Analysis in Oil and Soils”
Glass Expansion took part in this high-impact session focused on high-throughput ICP-OES and ICP-MS analysis of complex oil and soil matrices. Ryan Brennan, shared strategic sample introduction component selections and high-performance innovations engineered to overcome matrix-specific challenges, reduce downtime, and increase laboratory throughput while delivering cleaner, more reliable data.
ICP Alley Webinars:
Ryan Brennan and Randy Mercruio delivered two targeted sessions as part of the popular pre-Pittcon ICP Alley series:
• Stability & Drift: Covering practical approaches to achieving stable signals and controlling drift in ICP-OES and ICP-MS.
• Carryover & Contamination: Actionable techniques to improve washout efficiency and data reliability by minimizing carryover and cross-contamination.
Both sessions gave analysts immediately usable troubleshooting strategies they can apply in their own labs.
Spring Seminar Series — “From Digestion to Data”
In April 2026, Glass Expansion joined a multi-city, full-day seminar tour across the US and Canada. The series was built around a single practical goal: helping analysts produce cleaner, more reliable trace metals data, from the first acid addition through the final report.
Spring Seminar Series: Attendees learned how to select the right acids and standards, optimize your digestion process, match your sample introduction system to your analyzer, and generate clean, defensible data — whether youʼre running one sample a day or hundreds.
ICP User Meeting 2026 — Brukelen, Netherlands
From Glass Expansion, Dr. Maja Budanovic presented Handling Challenging Samples: Particulates and High TDS, addressing sample introduction challenges in high-matrix samples and approaches for maintaining stable analytical performance. A second presentation, ICP Sample Introduction System: Diagnostics and Care, focused on diagnosing common sample introduction issues and preventive maintenance of nebulizers, spray chambers, and torches.
The program also included hands-on sessions in the demo laboratory, covering microwave digestion workflows and routine ICP analysis. These sessions focused on practical setup, operational considerations, and troubleshooting strategies for everyday laboratory work.
Download Presentation Handling Challenging Samples: Particulates and High TDS →
Download Presentation ICP Sample Introduction System: Diagnostics and Care →
Plasma Pro Tips: Expert Advice
Short, focused, and practical — that’s the formula for our Plasma Pro Tips series. Each episode tackles a specific ICP challenge and offers concrete recommendations you can put to work the same day. Hosted by Glass Expansion technical specialists.
New: June 2026 Episode — “Recommended Nebulizer Operating Parameters”
This episode covers nebulizer selection, optimizing operating conditions, and a deep dive into how aerosol quality affects the analytical performance of your ICP-MS and ICP-OES. Learn how to tune parameters for different sample types to achieve stable, high-performance results. Whether you’re developing a new method or troubleshooting an existing one, this episode is worth your 10 minutes.
Product Spotlights
Nebulizer Resource Guide — Find Your Optimal Match
Nebulizer selection is one of the most impactful decisions you’ll make for ICP-MS and ICP-OES performance. The wrong choice costs you sensitivity, precision, and time. The right one pays dividends with every run. Our comprehensive Nebulizer Resource Guide takes the guesswork out of the equation.
What’s Inside:
- Complete overview of our trademark nebulizer designs (SeaSpray, MicroMist, Conikal, and more) with ideal use cases
- Material options, uptake rates, TDS/particulate tolerance, and reproducibility specifications Instrument cross-reference tables for leading OEM ICP-OES/ICP-MS platforms
- Maintenance, cleaning, and troubleshooting guidance
- Application-specific recommendations: high matrix, low volume, organics, high sensitivity, and more
MicroMist™ Nebulizer — The Global Standard for Low-Flow ICP-MS
When precision, sensitivity, and reliability aren’t negotiable, labs worldwide turn to the MicroMist™ Direct Connect nebulizer. It’s not just popular — it’s the de facto standard for low-flow ICP-OES and ICP-MS applications, trusted for its industry-leading ~1% reproducibility and its proprietary VitriCone™ capillary design, which sets it apart from every competing product.
The MicroMist is ideal for:
- Any non-HF ICP-OES and ICP-MS application requiring the highest transport efficiency and precision.
- Samples with limited volume, such as biological samples.
- Samples of high value, such as precious metals and fine chemicals.
- Hazardous or radioactive materials that are difficult to dispose of.
- Any organics and highly volatile organics that are challenging due to plasma instability.
- Isotope ratio and single-event ICP-MS (single-cell, single-particle, and nanoparticle) analysis where precision and efficiency are critical.
Why VitriCone™ Construction Makes the Difference
The VitriCone™ capillary is uniform from the entry point to the nebulizer tip — no narrowing, no dead zones, no clogging surprises. Precision-machined to the industry’s tightest tolerances, it resists vibration, delivers unmatched precision, and ensures every nebulizer in the box performs identically to the last one. That’s what batch-to-batch consistency actually looks like.
The Efficiency Advantage — Numbers That Matter The 50 µL/min MicroMist achieves ~50% transport efficiency (~25 µL/min into the plasma). A standard 2 mL/min nebulizer at 2% efficiency delivers only ~40 µL/min. This means up to 40× less sample consumption, with less than a 2× reduction in sensitivity.
High Matrix Performance: Still handles wastewater, soil, blood, serum, and urine at up to 15% TDS. For even more demanding matrices, pair with the Elegra argon humidifier to achieve further gains.
Upcoming In Person Events
JASIS 2026 — Chiba, Japan
Our Asia-Pacific team is heading back to JASIS (Japan Analytical & Scientific Instruments Show) at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. Following strong showings in prior years, we’ll showcase our latest innovations in sample introduction and host technical discussions for customers and partners across the region.
Location: Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Halls and International Conference Hall
Dates: September 2 to 4, 2026
Booth: #5A-304
Registration Links: English | Japanese
Fall Seminar Tour — “From Digestion to Data”
The Spring tour sold out quickly — and the Fall edition is shaping up to be even bigger. These full-day, no-fee educational events bring decades of combined hands-on experience directly to your city.
What to Expect: Expert-led sessions on digestion optimization, acid and standard selection, sample introduction best practices, and generating clean, defensible data. Real questions answered by specialists who’ve seen it all. Breakfast and lunch provided. Spots are limited — register early.
Preliminary Schedule - Fall 2026 Seminar Tour Stops
