Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (AES): A method for identifying the elemental constituents of a sample from the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the atoms in the sample when exposed to thermal energy.

Gas Chromatography (GC): A separation process in which a sample is injected into a stream of carrier gas moving through a column containing a stationary phase composed of a liquid or particulate solid and is separated into its component compounds according to their affinity for the stationary phase.

Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS): A method for identifying the composition of a sample by means of Gas Chromatographic separation of the component compounds followed by identification of the individual constituents by Mass Spectrometry.

Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP): A high temperature conductive gaseous mixture, contained and energized by a radio frequency electromagnetic field. Often used in AES as a source of energy for the generation of emission spectra from elements.

Ion Signature: Ion Signature Technology's proprietary quantitative deconvolution software. Without sample cleanup or other sample preparation, the software provides unambiguous identification of individual compounds in complex samples from characteristic multiple narrow-band spectral signals generated by the compounds.

Liquid Chromatography (LC): A separation process in which a sample is injected into a stream of carrier liquid moving through a column containing a stationary liquid phase and is separated into its component compounds according to their affinity for the stationary phase.

Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS): A method for identifying the composition of a sample by means of Liquid Chromatographic separation of the component compounds followed by identification of the individual constituents by Mass Spectrometry.

Mass Spectrometry (MS): A method for identifying the chemical constituents of a substance by converting them into gaseous ions, which are then separated and classified according to their mass-to-charge ratios.

Microwave Induced Plasma (MIP): A high-temperature conductive gaseous mixture, contained and energized by a high-frequency electromagnetic field. Often used in AES as a source of energy for the generation of emission spectra from elements.

Thermal Desorption (TD): A method for vaporizing and introducing volatile and semi-volatile compounds present in a sample into an analytical instrument by means of thermal energy.

Thermal Extraction (TE): A method for vaporizing and collecting volatile and semi volatile constituents from a sample in-situ, i.e. without removing the sample from its original location or environment.

X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF): A method for identifying the elemental constituents of a sample from the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the atoms in the sample when excited by X-ray radiation.