Inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) is an emission technique that employs an ICP ion source to excite & ionise ions within a sample (often from aqueous solution). Photons of characteristic wavelengths of the ions under investigation are emitted and detected via an optical spectrometer, their intensity is proportional to concentration. Trace level analytical technique.
Also known as ICP-AES. ICP atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) is a technique that can determine concentrations of trace to major elements and can detect most elements in the periodic table. Reliable results can be obtained for about 70 elements with detection limits in the parts per billion range.