Elan 9000

The mineralogical and chemical compositions of the minerals and solid residues were determined based on wave dispersive spectrometry (ARL Advant’X 4200, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Walthamm, MA, USA), X-ray diffraction “XRD” (XRD-7000, Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan), scanning electron microscopy “SEM” (JSM-6390LV, Jeol, Tokyo, Japan) with a JED 2300 Energy Dispersive X-ray Analyzer (EDX) (Jeol, Tokyo, Japan), wet analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry “ICP-MS” (Elan 9000, PerkinElmer, Waltham, MA, USA) and laser diffraction (Helos/BR, Sympatec, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany). The solid materials were ground in a planetary mill (Pulverisette 6, Fritsch GmbH & Co. KG, Welden Germany) and dissolved in an aqua regia before ICP-MS analysis. The sulfur content was analyzed using a carbon/sulfur analyzer (CS 230, LECO, St. Joseph, MI, USA). Solution samples were analyzed by ICP-MS.

Plasma iron was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS, Elan 9000, Perkin Elmer, Norwalk, CT, USA) using UTAK serum (Utak Laboratories, Inc., Valencia, CA, USA) for quality control. Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) was analyzed using a BioLis 24i Clinical Analyzer (Carolina Liquid Chemistries Corp., Winston-Salem, NC, USA). Transferrin was quantified by radial immunodiffusion (Kent Laboratories Inc., Bellingham, WA, USA).

The stability of the Bi₄C@US-tube material has been previously reported [56 (link)]. In the present study, the stability of the Bi₄C@US-tubes suspended in 0.17% Pluronic® was assessed to determine whether a rigorous sonication process affects the stability of the Bi₄C@US-tubes when suspended. Aliquots of the labeling solution were placed in centrifuge filter tubes (50 mL tubes, 10 kDa), kept at 37–40°C for 24 h, and finally centrifuged (Figure S1). The supernatant was treated with additions of 70% HNO_3(aq) trace-metal grade and 26% HClO_3(aq) under heat to digest the organic material. Samples were then analyzed for bismuth by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS, Elan 9000 from PerkinElmer Inc.).

The acidified water samples were subsequently analysed for trace and major elements using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) (2007, Model: PerkinElmer Elan 9000) with an instrument limit of detection of 0.002 ppm for cadmium and 0.009 ppm for lead, whereas the samples for DOC and anions analysis were evaluated using the Shimadzu TOC-5000 without acidification. The leachate samples were digested using the wet acid digestion procedure. Pretreatment of 50 ml of leachate was done with 2 ml nitric acid, and 5 drops of 30% hydrogen peroxide were added in a closed bottle and placed in a constant temperature water bath at 60°C for 1 hour. The clear supernatant was filtered through 0.45 µm filters into plastic sample bottles and analysed for cations, whereas the samples for DOC and anions analysis were only filtered before analysis. The analyses were done over a period of three years, and mean values of the measurements have been reported. The major anions Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, and SO₄²⁻ were analysed at KTH, Stockholm, using a Dionex DX-120 ion chromatograph.

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers (ICP-MS) are commonly used to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze trace metal elements in solution. In this experiment, an ICP-MS (ELAN9000, PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences, Shelton, CT, USA) was used to determine the concentration of Cu ions dissolved from the Cu-ZnO nanocomposites during the experiment. This showed whether the solubility of the Cu ions in the composite exceeded the safety threshold, and whether the material could cause harm to the environment or the human body.

The cellular internalization of Mn was quantified via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Briefly, cells were grown on 24-well cell culture plates and allowed to develop to 70% confluency. Cells were then treated with NPs (12.5 µg/mL) for 24 h. Later, samples were pelleted via centrifugation (5000 rpm, 5 min at 4 °C) and washed 3× with ice-cold phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4). The pellet was then dissolved in 10 mL 1% HNO₃, and NP internalization was measured using an Elan 9000 ICP-MS instrument (Perkin Elmer, Waltham, CT, USA). The process of instrument calibration included the use of a solution containing manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) at a concentration of 1 part per billion (ppb). The same standard solution was used for the purpose of optimizing nebulizer gas flow, mass calibration, and resolution. A multi-element internal solution with a concentration of 20 parts per billion (ppb) was used.

Individual samples from the alfalfa hay and concentrates were taken at the beginning of the experiment. The feed samples were analyzed for organic matter (OM; official method 7.009), dry matter (DM; official method 7.007) crude protein (CP; official method 7.016) and ether extract (EE; official method 7.060) according to the Association of Official Analytical Chemists [24 ], and for neutral detergent fibre (NDF), assayed without a heat-stable amylase, and acid detergent fibre (ADF), expressed exclusive of residual ash, according to Van Soest et al. [25 (link)]. The selenium was determined in the feed samples using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) (Perkin Elmer, Elan 9000, Perkin Elmer Life and Analytical Sciences Inc, Waltham, MA, USA), as described in a previous work [26 (link)].