XRF delivers elemental analysis up to 50x faster, at half the lifetime cost—without the hazardous chemicals or compliance headaches of ICP.
Time is a critical factor in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Every minute spent waiting for analytical results is a delay in getting medicine to the patients that need them. Commonly used ICP spectroscopy requires extensive sample digestion, which often means it’s 24 hours or more before your results are available. Additionally, ICP requires highly skilled operators – a major issue when such specialized labour is in short supply. These factors create bottlenecks in your workflow.
ICP systems incur high recurring costs because you need a constant supply of argon gas and acids to dissolve samples. These acids corrode parts of the instrument (like the torches and tubing), meaning these must be regularly replaced, adding to the costs.
ICP systems also need dedicated lab space and infrastructure as well as specialized personnel, increasing operational expenses.
Ensuring the health and safety of your people is non-negotiable. ICP techniques expose users to hazardous chemicals (such as hydrofluoric acid), introducing serious health & safety risks. There’s also the waste to consider – after use these chemicals become toxic waste, adding to your environmental footprint and regulatory compliance burden.
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample changer capacity | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
| Overview | Automated for higher throughput |
| Sensitivity | ✔ ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 45 minutes to analyze 20 elements according to ICH-Q3D |
| Sample throughput | 10 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | ✔ - 1 g daily dose - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ ✔ - |
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample throughput | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample throughput | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample throughput | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample throughput | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample throughput | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample throughput | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample throughput | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample throughput | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample changer capacity | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample changer capacity | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample changer capacity | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample changer capacity | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample changer capacity | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample changer capacity | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample changer capacity | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample changer capacity | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
| Overview | Get started |
| Sensitivity | ✔ - |
| Sample preparation time | 30 min (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements |
| Sample changer capacity | 1 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔ - |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔ - - |
Epsilon 1 |
Epsilon 4 |
Revontium |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | Get started | Automated for higher throughput | Automated & provides full regulatory compliance |
| Sensitivity | ✔- - | ✔ ✔- | ✔ ✔ ✔ |
| Sample preparation time | 30 mins (approx.) | 30 mins (approx.) | 30 mins (approx.) |
| Measurement time per sample | 10 minutes to analyze 5 elements sd | 45 minutes to analyze 20 elements according to ICH-Q3D | 30 minutes to analyze 20 elements according to ICH-Q3D |
| Sample throughput | 1 | 10 | 32 |
| Catalyst residue detection according to ICH Q3D | ✔- - | ✔ ✔- | ✔ ✔ ✔ |
| Detection of toxic elements, e.g. ‘Big 4’: Cd, Pb, As, Hg according to ICH Q3D guideline | - | ✔- 1g daily dose |
✔ ✔ 10g daily dose |
| Detect wear elements (Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Cu) | ✔- - | ✔ ✔- | ✔ ✔ ✔ |
XRF is transforming elemental analysis in the pharmaceutical industry, offering a faster, safer, and more cost-effective alternative to traditional techniques. Unlike ICP, which requires hazardous chemicals and costly consumables, XRF delivers rapid results with minimal sample prep, helping companies streamline workflows and reduce costs.
For most pharmaceutical companies once the dominant method for elemental analysis, ICP spectroscopy now reflects a more traditional, legacy approach. However, ICP can be slow, creating bottlenecks in purification workflows. What’s more, ICP has high lifetime costs due to the consumables and it requires seriously hazardous chemicals.
Discover the strategic advantages of using X-ray fluorescence for pharmaceutical elemental analysis
Elemental analysis is faster, greener, and safer with X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
Find out how Gilead Sciences use XRF to streamline elemental analysis in this webinar, presented by Dr. Sean Liew.
XRF for ICH Q3D Elemental Impurity Screening: Download the App Note
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