Growing population and increasing regulations have increased the demand for fast, accurate, and accessible methods for elemental analysis across the world. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is the most popular technique for trace and ultra-trace element analysis in environmental, semiconductor, clinical, pharmaceutical, biomedical, electronics, geochemical, food, and agriculture fields.

High price tag, high argon and power consumption, large footprint, complicated workflow, and long analysis turnaround associated with traditional ICP-MS systems are important impediments to penetration of this essential technology in developing and untapped markets where most of the future growth is expected.