Bench Boost by Inorganic Ventures

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This week we’re celebrating a huge milestone—our 100th episode! To mark the occasion, we’re kicking off a brand-new Back to Basics series with a focus on pipetting—the foundation of accurate lab work. Joined by R&D Chemists Liv Forbes & Autumn Phillips and Tech Support Chemist Ashley Jones, we break down common pipetting errors, compare manual vs. electronic pipettors, and share essential tips for mastering technique. From pre-wetting tips to proper immersion depth, pipette angle, and the importance of blow-out, we cover the small details that make a big difference in precision.

Whether you’re a seasoned lab pro or just starting out, this special milestone episode will help sharpen your skills and improve the reliability of your results.

If you have any questions, then please contact us at [email protected]

Tune in, celebrate with us, and take your lab techniques to the next level with Bench Boost!

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In this episode of Bench Boost, host Mike Booth is joined by R&D Chemists Liv Forbes and Madeline Gozzi to answer technical support questions straight from graduate students in the lab. From tackling the stubborn insolubility of silver chloride to mastering rapid zeolite digestion with the UniSolv method, the team breaks down the chemistry and offers practical, lab-ready solutions.

Key topics include:

• Why silver chloride resists dissolution — and how excess chloride shifts the equilibrium
• Practical digestion strategies for stabilizing silver in solution
• An overview of the UniSolv method for fast, five-minute zeolite digestion
• Best practices for preparing blanks and standards in matrix-matched conditions

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In this episode of Bench Boost, host Mike Booth is joined by R&D Chemists Liv Forbes and Madeline Gozzi to unpack two common technical support questions. From concerns about the radioactivity of uranium and thorium standards to troubleshooting unstable tin recoveries in food analysis, the team shares practical solutions and clear explanations you can bring back to your lab.

Key topics include:

• Radioactivity levels of uranium and thorium standards — why they’re safe to handle
• How bottle size and concentration impact measured activity
• Why tin shows instability in certain food matrices
• Practical digestion and stabilization strategies to improve Sn results

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In this episode of Bench Boost, host Mike Booth sits down with R&D Chemists Liv Forbes and Madeline Gozzi to dive into real-world technical support questions from the lab. From the tricky behavior of mercury in cannabis matrices to the best way to store custom blend standards, the team shares practical advice and insights you can apply directly to your work.

Key topics include:

• Challenges in mercury analysis on ICP-MS — washout, volatilization, and matrix effects
• Practical troubleshooting tips for improving accuracy with mercury standards
• Storage guidelines for custom blends, including when refrigeration is helpful
• How TCT packaging extends stability and shelf life of standards

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In this episode, the Inorganic Ventures team continues their overview of SEAL-compatible Discrete Analyzer Reagents—this time focusing on four essential nutrient and anion methods: chloride, sulfate, phosphate, and ammonia.

Ashley Jones and Liv Forbes break down the key reactions behind each method, including:

• The iron thiocyanate reaction for chloride
• Turbidimetric analysis of sulfate via barium sulfate formation
• The molybdenum blue reaction for phosphate
• A safer variant of the Berthelot reaction for ammonia

They also share storage tips, instrument compatibility notes, and how to adapt these reagents for non-SEAL platforms.

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In this episode, the team dives into colorimetric methods for silica and nitrate analysis using SEAL Discrete Analyzer Reagents developed by Inorganic Ventures. Ashley Jones and Liv Forbes walk through the chemistries behind the molybdate silica method, cadmium coil nitrate reduction, and hydrazine-based nitrate reduction—along with practical maintenance tips for keeping your reduction efficiency in check.

They also discuss how to adapt these reagents for non-SEAL instruments, important considerations like pH and matrix matching, and which IV standards pair best with each method.

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Platinum may be one of the easier precious metals to dissolve—but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to analyze.

In this episode, the team walks through sample prep strategies for a range of platinum-containing materials, including metals, alloys, oxides, ores, and organic matrices. They also cover the most reliable wavelengths and isotopes for ICP-OES and ICP-MS, while flagging key interferences like nickel, tungsten, and mercury, as well as tricky chloride-based polyatomics.

Need more guidance? The full prep guide is available on our website.

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Colorimetric chemistry may seem simple, but getting reliable results takes precision.

In this episode, the team breaks down the fundamentals of colorimetric methods, from basic indicators to more advanced workflows using benchtop spectrometers and discrete analyzers. They compare the pros and cons of each approach, share practical advice for pipetting accuracy, and highlight industries (like environmental, food, and pharma) where these methods are still essential.

Plus, Liv and Ashley share tips on reagent handling, photosensitive reactions, and instrument setup to help labs get the most from their colorimetric testing—whether you're working with pool water or cyanide.

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In this episode, the team dives into palladium sample preparation for a variety of matrices—metals, alloys, oxides, organics, and ores—highlighting the best acid choices and digestion strategies from our sample prep guide.

The team also discusses common challenges when analyzing palladium using ICP-OES and ICP-MS, including isobaric and polyatomic interferences, oxide formation, and how trace organics can destabilize your results.

Need more guidance? The full prep guide is available on our website.

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In this episode, the Inorganic Ventures technical team answers real questions from labs in the field—covering environmental contamination solutions, rare earth stability, acid purity, and practical tips for improving detection limits. It’s an inside look at how small changes in setup and prep can make a big difference in data quality.