Microanalysis

Microanalysis is the chemical identification and quantitative analysis of very small amounts of chemical substances (generally less than 10 mg or 1 ml) or very small surfaces  of material (generally less than 1 cm2). One of the pioneers in the microanalysis of chemical elements was the Austrian Nobel Prize winner Fritz Pregl.

Methods
The most known methods used in microanalysis include:
 * Most of the spectroscopy methods: ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray fluorescence, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry
 * Most of the chromatography methods : high-performance liquid chromatography, Gel permeation chromatography;
 * Some thermal analysis methods: differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis;
 * Electrophoresis;
 * Field flow fractionation;
 * X-ray diffraction;
 * Combustion analysis.

Advantages
Compared to normal analyses methods, microanalysis:
 * Can resolve fine-scale variations in chemical elements.
 * Can be used to identify the presence and distribution of different phases in materials.
 * Requires less sample material and therefore can provide information on microscopic objects.

Disadvantages

 * Handling of small quantities is not always simple.
 * Higher accuracy of weighing is necessary (e.g. use of accurate balance).
 * Sample surface preparation can have a major impact on measurement results.