Rapid Determination of Dissolved Phosphorus in Environmental Waters Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Dissolved phosphorus (P), an important bioavailable nutrient element, is one of the key indicators of eutrophication levels, and has been routinely measured for decades in aquatic environments. The current EPA recommended colorimetric method has been criticized for its time-consuming step of sample preparation and generation of toxic waste through the use of heavy metal catalysts. In this study, a fast, accurate, and interference-free method for the determination of dissolved P in environmental waters based on inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) was developed. This ICP-MS/MS was operated in the MS/MS mode to provide an interference-free measurement. The developed method exhibited excellent linearity (R² = 0.9999) over a concentration range of 0.5–500 μg L^?1, with a limit of detection of 8.1 ng L^?1 in 5% nitric acid solutions. The recoveries (90%–105% in water samples) and the concentrations determined by this method were in good agreement with those determined using the recommended colorimetric method. Comparing with the colorimetric method, the proposed method for determination of dissolved P exhibited great advantages such as shorter experiment time, lower limit of detection and higher sample throughput.     

Trace Determination of Manganese in Urine by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry

This paper describes a simple and sensitive method for the determination of manganese in human urine by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS), which includes sample preparation by microwave digestion. Matrix modifier combinations, the digestion power, pyrolysis, and atomization temperatures were optimized. A mixture of 5.0 µg Pd(NO₃)₂ and 3.2 µg Mg(NO₃)₂ modifier presented the best performance. The optimal temperatures for pyrolysis and atomization were 1500°C and 1950°C, respectively. The GFAAS method was compared to inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) for the determination of manganese in urine. Analytical figures of merit for GFAAS and ICP–MS were: accuracy (3.46%, 2.19%), precision (3.61%, 5.84%), LOD (0.109 µg · L^?1, 0.015 µg · L^?1), LOQ (0.327 µg · L^?1, 0.045 µg · L^?1), and recovery (80–100%, 74–89%). Both methods were employed for the determination of Mn in urine and the results were compared statistically.     

Determination of Organotins in Seafood by Novel Extraction Procedures and High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

Triorganotins in seafood are a risks to human health, but due to their low concentrations, their determination is challenging. In this study, a simple and rapid method was developed to isolate triorganotins from seafood by microwave-assisted extraction coupled with magnetic nanoparticle-based purification. The magnetic nanoparticles were coated with octanoic acid. Triethyltin chloride, tributyltin chloride, triphenyltin chloride, and azocyclotin were determined by high performance liquid chromatography– inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC–ICP-MS). Various parameters including the temperature, time, and volume of solvent were optimized to improve the extraction efficiency. Under the optimized conditions, the average recoveries (n = 6) of the triorganotins (fortified at 0.01, 0.02, and 0.05 µg g^?1) were between 73.8% and 105.4% and the relative standard deviations were less than 10.4%. The procedure was successfully applied to seafood, and the analytes were measured at concentration levels between 2.93 and 11.26 ng g^?1.     

Optimized Ultrasound-Assisted Emulsification-Microextraction Followed by ICP-OES for Simultaneous Determination of Lanthanum and Cerium in Urine and Water Samples

In this study, optimized ultrasound-assisted emulsification–microextraction (USAEME) combined with inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was applied to simultaneous determination of trace levels of lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce) in water and biological samples. 5,6,14,15-dibenzo-1,4-dioxa-8,12-diazacyclopentadecane (a dioxa-diazamacrocycle) was used as chelating agent. Tetrachloroethylene was selected as extraction solvent. The effective parameters of USAEME including pH, salt effect, ultrasonic time, temperature, volume of extraction solvent, and concentration of the chelating agent were studied by a fractional factorial design to identify the significant parameters and their interactions. The results showed that pH and concentration of chelating agent were significant. In the next step, to optimize important parameters, a central composite design was performed. Under the optimal conditions (5.5 for pH and 180 mg L^?1 for concentration of chelating agent) the calibration graphs were linear in the range of 0.1–1000 for La and 1–1000 µ g L^?1 for Ce. The determination coefficients (R²) were 0.999 and 0.998 for La and Ce, respectively. The limits of detection were 0.012 for La and 0.61 µ g L^?1 for Ce. The relative standard deviations (RSD %, n = 7) at 200 µ g L^?1 were 3.5% for La and 3.1% for Ce. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of La and Ce in real water samples with the recoveries in the range of 93–99%     

电感耦合等离子体光谱/质谱联机同时测定多金属结核中常量、微量、痕量元素

采用电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)与等离子体光谱(ICP-OES)联机同时测定多金属结核样品中常量、微量、痕量元素。样品经高压密封溶样弹消解后,一次气动雾化进样,ICP-OES测定常量和微量元素,ICP-MS测定微量和痕量元素。详细探讨了不同浓度范围元素的测定方式、元素分析信号的采集模式、多原子离子干扰的校正因子。采用ICP-MS与ICP-OES二种方式同时测定Co、Cu、Ni、Zn、V、Ba、Sr,分析结果表明具有较好的一致性。所建立的ICP-MS与ICP-OES联机检测技术用于多金属结核标准样品的分析(Nod-A-1,GSPN-1,GSPN-2,GSPN-3),分析结果与推荐值符合,相对标准偏差小于10％。     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定黄沙土壤中铅同位素比

用电感耦合等离子体质谱法（ＩＣＰ—ＭＳ）测定了５个黄沙原土样品中铅同位素比２０７Ｐｂ／２０６Ｐｂ、２０８Ｐｂ／２０６Ｐｂ，样品来自被认为是黄沙气溶胶源地区，为了使铅同位素测量中质量偏差和漂移减至最少，在样品中加入了铊标准溶液，测量２０５Ｔｌ／２０３Ｔｌ比，校正质量数差别选择的影响．同时，采用ＩＣＰ—ＭＳ和电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法（ＩＣＰ一ＡｌＳ）测定了随粒径变化样品中１２种元素浓度的变化．     

Calibration for Elemental Dental Tissue Analysis by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Teeth retain different elements at particular stages of life. Hence, the exposure over a selected time span may be characterized by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). A Nd:YAG laser with emission at 266?nm was coupled to a quadrupole ICP-MS for the quantitative study of historical human teeth for Sr and Ba, elements of anthropological significance. A calibration approach incorporating the experimentally derived k coefficient is reported. The coefficients were established based on the mean concentrations of the analytes determined by pneumatic nebulization ICP-MS using acid-digested calcium phosphate standards and the intensities recorded during laser ablation of corresponding standards as pellets. The k values were 0.54?±?0.05 (µg?g^?1)^?1 and 4.49?±?1.09 (µg?g^?1)^?1 for Sr and Ba, respectively. This calibration approach provided local quantitative data and demonstrated statistically significant differences in Sr concentrations in enamel and dentine.     

Simultaneous Determination of Phenolics and Polymethoxylated Flavones in Citrus Fruits by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Triple-Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS)

Phenolic and polymethoxylated flavones are important bioactive components in citrus fruit. Here, a rapid and sensitive method based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS) was developed for the simultaneous determination of phenolic and polymethoxylated flavones in the peels and pulp of mandarins, tangelos, and oranges. Three phenolic acids and eight flavonoids, including polymethoxylated flavones, were separated and determined using positive and negative ion modes in a single chromatographic run of only 11?min using the multiple reaction monitoring detection mode. The method was validated with high recoveries from 96.1% to 103.5%, good precision with interday relative standard deviations less than or equal to 7.3%, intraday relative standard deviations ≤2.64%, low limits of detection from 1.0 to 18?µg L^–1, and low limits of quantitation in the range from 3.0 to 61?µg L^–1. The application of this UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS method to the citrus extracts of three cultivars showed that mandarin fruits contained the highest total amounts of the 11 analytes, followed by tangelos and oranges. This study provides a reliable and quantitative method that can be used for the development of functional products and quality evaluation of citrus fruits.     

High-Sensitivity and High-Performance Determination of Trace Aluminum in Water for Pharmaceutical Purposes by Microwave Plasma and Inductively Coupled Plasma–Atomic Emission Spectrometry

Procedures for the determination of aluminum in water for injections (Aqua ad iniectabilia) and high-purity water (Aqua valde purificata) at a level of several µg?L^?1 using atomic-emission spectrometry with a novel microwave plasma (MP–AES) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP–AES) are proposed. Regardless of the atomic-emission technique used, the procedure for aluminum needs no sample preparation (acidification only), no preconcentration, shows high sensitivity (limits of detection of 0.4 and 0.7?µg?L^?1 for ICP–AES and MP–AES with a polymeric inert concentric nebulizer, respectively, and 0.03?µg?L^?1 for ICP–AES with an ultrasonic nebulizer), high precision (repeatability, relative standard deviation, <5%), and high throughput (25 samples per hour), and is considerably simpler and more expedient from the viewpoint of the analysis cost and time compared with the standard spectrofluorimetric procedure of the US and the European Pharmacopoeia.     

Determination of Organotin Compounds in Wine by Microwave-Assisted Extraction and High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

A new analytical procedure for the determination of five organotin compounds in several matrix wine samples is reported. The organotin compounds were extracted by microwave-assisted extraction with n-hexane. Extraction conditions, such as volume of n-hexane required, extraction temperature, and extraction time, were investigated and optimized by an orthogonal array experimental design. The determination of organotin compounds in the final extracts was carried out by liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The procedure showed limits of detection between 0.029–0.049 µg · L^?1. The linearity was in the range of 0.5 to 100 µg · L^?1. The precision expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) was below 9.43%. The developed method was successfully employed to analyze different matrix wine samples, and some analytes were detected at the level of 0.053 to 1.14 µg · L^?1.     

微波消解-等离子体原子发射光谱法测定石榴皮和石榴籽中微量元素

采用微波消解样品,电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法(ICP-AES)测定了石榴皮和石榴籽中K、Ca、Mg、Fe、Al、Cu、Zn、Mn、Na、Li、P、S 12种微量元素的含量。在最佳仪器工作条件下,各元素的加标回收率为91.8%～103.1%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为0.70%～2.68%。实验结果可为石榴皮和石榴籽中微量元素与其药效的相关性提供科学依据。     

微波消解–ICP–MS法测定话梅中的二氧化钛

建立了微波消解–电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICP–MS)测定话梅中二氧化钛的方法。话梅样品用硝酸及过氧化氢经微波消解仪消解,将消解液除酸定容后用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪测定,以内标法测得钛的含量,并转换成样品中的二氧化钛含量。钛含量在0~500μg/kg范围内与信号强度呈良好的线性,线性相关系数r=0.999 9,检出限为0.04μg/kg。在0.06,0.15,0.30μg/kg的添加水平下,加标回收率为80%~100%,相对标准偏差为3.2%~3.9%(n=6)。该法稳定性好,测定结果准确、可靠。     

电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法测定锌精矿中的铟

应用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法测定锌精矿中的铟,确定了最佳工作条件,选择了最佳分析谱线,并利用标准加入法和基体匹配法验证了方法的准确性。样品用氟化氢铵、盐酸、硝酸、高氯酸溶样,用盐酸定容。结果表明,电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法与萃取分离盐酸羟胺示波极谱法测定的铟含量结果一致。方法准确,快速,加标回收率为99.6%～101.7%,相对标准偏差为0.97%～2.1%。     

Novel Imprinted Polymer for the Preconcentration of Cadmium with Determination by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

A novel Cd(II)-imprinted polymer was prepared with chemical immobilization using N-methacryloyl-L-Histidine as a vinylated chelating agent for online solid-phase extraction of Cd(II) for determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The Cd(II)–monomer complex was synthesized and copolymerized through bulk polymerization method in the presence of ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate cross-linker. The resulting polymer was leached with 1.0?mol?L^?1 HNO₃ to generate the cavities in the polymer for Cd(II) ions. The experimental conditions, including load pH, solution flow rate, and eluent concentration for effective sorption of Cd(II), were optimized using a minicolumn of the imprinted polymer. A volume of 5.0?mL sample 5?µg?L^?1 Cd(II) solution at pH 6.5 was loaded on the column at 2.0?mL?min^?1 using a sequential injection system followed by elution with 1.0?mL of 0.75?mol?L^?1 HNO₃. The relative selectivity coefficients of the imprinted polymer for Cd(II) were 38.5, 3.5, 3.0, 2.5, and 6.0 in the presence of Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II), and Pb(II), respectively. Computational calculations revealed that the selectivity of the imprinted polymer was mediated by the stability of Cd(II)–N-methacryloyl-L-Histidine complex which was more stable than commonly used monomers including 4-vinyl pyridine, methacrylic acid, and vinylimidazole. The detection limit and relative standard deviation were 0.004?µg?L^?1 and 3.2%, respectively. The method was validated by the analysis of seawater certified reference material (CASS-4) and successfully used for the determination of Cd(II) in coastal seawater and estuarine water.     

微流动注射-等离子体质谱直接测定白酒中铅和镉

研制了多采样体积的微流控芯片, 结合普通的八通阀实现了等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)亚微升级样品的进样. 研究了白酒基体[52%(体积分数)乙醇]引入量对ICP的稳定性和裂解后所产生碳干扰的情况, 考察了进样体积与灵敏度的关系, 并优化了载流流速. 实验结果表明, 当进样量低于0.8 μL时, ICP-MS能长时间正常运行, 未出现积碳现象; 进一步将进样量降到0.3 μL以下, 可消除白酒基体中的碳所引入的质谱干扰. 在此基础上建立了用微流动注射ICP-MS直接测定白酒中Pb和Cd的方法, 每小时可分析45个样品, Pb和Cd的检出限分别为12和42 ng/L. 以水标准溶液直接测定了6个白酒样品中的Cd和Pb含量, 结果与微波消解-常规进样系统ICP-MS的分析结果一致.     

Determination of Rare Earth Elements in Navel Oranges from Different Geographical Regions of China by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

There are three major production bases of navel oranges in China, including Southern Jiangxi Province, Southern Hunan Province, and the Three Gorges District of the Yangtze River. Southern Jiangxi and Southern Hunan are also famous for rare earth elements that are ionic, making them easily passed from soil to plants and fruits. To test the relative enrichment of rare earth elements in navel oranges from these production sites, ICP-MS analysis was performed following a microwave digestion procedure. The concentrations of La, Ce, Pr, and Nd in navel orange peels from Southern Jiangxi and Southern Hunan (1.26–1.86 µg g^?1) were much higher than results from the Three Gorges (0.23–0.46 µg g^?1). Moreover, yttrium is relatively enriched (0.25–0.29 µg g^?1) in navel orange peels from Southern Jiangxi at concentrations almost twice that from Southern Hunan (0.15 µg g^?1). The various concentrations and distribution of rare earth elements offers the possibility of traceability and authentication of navel oranges. Meanwhile, navel orange peels from Southern Jiangxi posed no risk in consumption, based on the maximum limit level (≤0.7 µg g^?1, wet weight) of rare earth elements in food issued in China (GB 2762-2005).     

Comparison of analytical methods: ICP-QMS,ICP-SFMS and FF-ET-AAS for the determination of V,Mn, Ni,Cu, As,Sr, Mo,Cd and Pb in ground natural waters

Three analytical methods, namely, inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS); inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-QMS) and filter-furnace electrothermal atomic-absorption spectroscopy (FF-ET-AAS) for the determination of V, Mn, Ni, Cu, As, Sr, Mo, Cd and Pb in ground natural water samples were compared and evaluated for their capacity to provide reliable and precise results. Two certified reference materials (SLEW-3 Estuarine Water; SLRS-4 River Water) were analysed to prove that accurate results could be obtained by using all the listed methods with properly optimised parameters. The limit of detection (LOD) for V, Mn, Ni, Cu, As, Sr, Mo, Cd and Pb provided by the ICP-MS methods ranged from 0.001 to 0.05 µg L^?1. Such LOD proved sufficient for the reliable determination of the listed elements in ground natural waters. However, the LOD of the FF-ET-AAS was approximately two orders of magnitude higher than that of ICP-MS, which made it impossible to quantify V, Mn, Ni, Mo and Pb. The effects of the usage of the collision cell mode in ICP-QMS and of the desolvation system Apex for ICP-SFMS to eliminate oxide ions levels were investigated. For all three analytical methods, the influence of the matrix effect on the results of the determination of the investigated elements using matrix model solution, external calibration and standard addition methods was evaluated. A comparison using a paired Student’s t-test between the results obtained by both ICP-MS methods for V, Mn, Ni, Cu, As, Sr, Mo, Cd and Pb concentrations in ground natural waters showed that there was no significant difference on a 95% confidence level. The precision of the results for ICP-SFMS, ICP-QMS and FF-ET-AAS varied between ~0.5 and 11; 2.5 and 12.5; 3 and 13.5%, respectively. Moreover, ICP-SFMS equipped with the desolvation system APEX proved a better choice for As, Cu and Mn analysis due to its better LOD (0.008, 0.03 and 0.02 µg L^?1, respectively) and precision (S_r ≤ 5.0; 7.5; 9.0%, respectively) compared to ICP-QMS and FF-ET-AAS.     

Simultaneous Determination of Organotin Compounds in White Wine by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

A simple, reliable, and effective analytical method was developed for the simultaneous determination of five organotin compounds (OTCs) including monobutyltin trichloride dibutyltin dichloride tributyltin chloride tetrabutyltin and triphenyltin chloride in white wines. The OTCs were derivatized with sodium tetraethylborate (NaBEt₄), and their derivatives were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) into n-hexane. The experimental variables, such as type and volume of extraction solvents, amount of derivatization reagent NaBEt₄ and extraction time were optimized. The determination of ethylated derivatives of OTCs in the final extracts was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Under optimized conditions, good linearity was observed when analytical concentrations were in the range of 0.01–4.0 µg · mL^?1, the linearity correlation coefficients were between 0.9982 and 0.9987, with the LODs in the range of 0.2–3.0 µg · L^?1, and the LOQs varied from 0.6 to 10.0 µg · L^?1. The obtained recoveries were in the range of 78.0–120.0%, with the relative standard deviations equal to or lower than 8.1%. This method was applied to the determination of OTCs in white wines with satisfactory results.     

Determination of Silver with On-Line Preconcentration Using Dithiozone Chelate and Carbon Nanotubes for Preconcentration with Detection by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

A novel flow injection system incorporating a micro-column packed with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as an adsorbent has been applied to the on-line preconcentration of trace silver with detection by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Silver is first chelated by dithizone (H₂Dz), then retained on the CNTs surface and afterward quantitatively eluted by methanol. Influencing parameters, including the concentration of reaction reagent, enrichment variables, and elution variables were investigated. The adsorption mechanisms of Ag-H₂Dz chelate retained onto the CNTs surface have also been studied. By loading 6.9 mL sample solution, a linear calibration graph is obtained within the range of 3–120 µg L^?1 with R of 0.9996, and a detection limit (3σ) of 0.8 µg L^?1 is achieved, along with a precision of 1.6% R.S.D. at the 30 µg L^?1 level (n = 7). The dynamic sorption capacity of CNTs for silver is 122 mg g^?1. The procedure is demonstrated by measurement of spike recovery in a series of water samples, giving rise to spike recoveries in the range of 96.8–99.7%.     

Persistence and dissipation of fluopicolide and propamocarb on cabbage and soil under semi-arid climatic conditions

Persistence and dissipation of fluopicolide and propamocarb were studied on cabbage and soil as per good agricultural practices over a period of 2 years. A modified QuEChERS analytical method in conjunction with gas chromatography (GC) and GC–mass spectrometry was used for analysis of fluopicolide and its metabolite, 2,6-dichlorobenzamide, and propamocarb in cabbage and soil. The results of the method validation were satisfactory with recoveries within 74.5–100.81% and relative standard deviations 4.8–13.9% (n = 6). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of both fluopicolide and 2,6-dichlorobenzamide were 0.003 µg mL^?1 and 0.01 mg kg^?1, respectively. The LOD and LOQ of propamocarb were 0.03 µg mL^?1 and 0.1 mg kg^?1, respectively. During 2013, the initial residue deposits of fluopicolide on cabbage were 0.60 and 1.48 mg kg^?1 from treatments at the standard and double doses of 100 and 200 g a.i. ha^?1 which dissipated with the half-life of 3.4 and 3.7 days. During 2014, the residues were 0.49 and 1.13 mg kg^?1 which dissipated with the half-life of 4.2 and 5.1 days. Propamocarb residues on cabbage were 5.36 and 12.58 mg kg^?1 in the first study (2013) and 4.85 and 10.26 mg kg^?1 in the second study (2014) from treatments at the standard and double doses of 1000 and 2000 g a.i. ha^?1, respectively. The residues dissipated with the half-life of 4–5.5 days. The preharvest interval, the time required for fluopicolide + propamocarb residues to dissipate below the maximum residue limits (notified by EU) at the standard dose, was 11.8 and 14 days during 2013 and 2014. Residue of 2,6-dichlorobenzamide was always <LOQ in cabbage. Residues of fluopicolide, 2,6-dichlorobenzamide and propamocarb were <LOQ in field soil at harvest.