Another step towards replacing NOBIAS Chelate PA-1

Science Highlights

2 September 2026

Kanna and his colleagues (2026, see reference below) successfully carried out the quantitative pre-concentration of seven trace metals—Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), and Lead (Pb)—in 30 mL of open-ocean water using an InertSep ME-2, eluted with nitric acid, under excellent blank and low detection limit conditions.

Analytical values of reference seawater materials (CASS-6 and NASS-7) agreed with the certified concentrations. Intercomparison of the results with another laboratory was successful.

In the end, the procedure provided accurate sub-nanomolar determinations of dissolved trace metals in open-ocean water.

Figure: Determination of trace metal concentrations at CL-18 (44° N, 145° W) in GEOTRACES GP02 Line using InertSep ME-2. The results are comparable to those previously reported for NOBIAS Chelate PA-1.

Reference:

Kanna, N., Obata, H., & Kondo, Y. (2026). Determination of picomolar to sub-nanomolar trace metals in seawater using an alternative chelating resin. Marine Chemistry, 276, 104642. Access the paper:10.1016/j.marchem.2026.104642

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