Identification of Fe‐polycarboxylic complexes by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and reduction of interferences by ion chromatography/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with an octopole reaction system

Stable complexes are required during the ion chromatographic (IC) separation of Fe‐polycarboxylic acid complexes. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) was used to identify 1:1 stoichiometric complexes of Fe[HEDTA], Fe[EDTA]^1? and Fe[DTPA]^2?, and the spectra showed that these Fe complexes were stable in solution. Furthermore, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) using an octopole reaction system (ORS) reduced polyatomic ion ⁴⁰Ar¹⁶O⁺ interference in the detection of ⁵⁶Fe via the addition of either H₂ or He to the ORS, with He at a flow rate 3.5 mL min^?1 being the optimum collision gas. Finally, IC/ICP‐MS was used for the separation and detection of Fe complexes with an eluent containing 30 mM (NH₄)₂HPO₄ at pH 8.0, but only Fe[HEDTA], Fe[EDTA]^1? and Fe[DTPA]^2? were observed within 10 min with reasonable resolution. Detection limits in the range of 10–13 µg L^?1 were achieved using He as the collision gas. The proposed method was used for the determination of Fe species in soil solutions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study of Cyclization of Chelating Compounds Using Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used for the study of cyclization of organic chelating compounds (chelators). Four chelating compounds were studed: Symmetrical ethylenediaminediacetic acid (s-EDDA), Unsymmetrical ethylenediaminediacetic acid (u-EDDA), N-(2-hydroxyethyl) ethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA), and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)iminodiacetic acid (HEIDA). The chelators were cyclized with treatments of acids and heating. The open and cyclized form of the chelators were semi-quantified by both positive and negative ion modes ESI-MS. The kinetics of chelator cyclization was studied as a function of reaction temperature and the pH of the matrix. The cyclization of s-EDDA was found to be a pseudo-first order reaction in s-EDDA and overall second order. The cyclizations of HEIDA and HEDTA are reversible reactions. Higher temperature and lower pH favors cyclization.     

Determination of strong binding chelators and their metal complexes by anion-exchange chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Based on the negative charge of polycarboxylic chelators, an anion-exchange separation has been developed that is compatible with sensitive metal detection by ICP-MS. A low capacity hydrophilic polymer (AS11) was used as the anion exchanger and ammonium nitrate as the eluent. The new procedure provided high selectivity in the isocratic mode as well as a large separation window and high separation efficiency in the gradient mode. This was demonstrated for different types of chelators and their metal complexes. The aminopolycarboxylates NTA, EDTA, CDTA, DTPA, EDDS and for the EDTA derivatives HEDTA, ED3A and EDTMP, the phosphonic acid analogue of EDTA were tested. Their retention times generally depended on the charge, which was lower in 1:1 metal chelator complexes. Evaluation of the separation mechanism demonstrated that they were all separated predominantly by an anion-exchange mechanism with only a minor contribution from hydrophobic attraction. The method is useful for species identification and for predicting the charge of unknown analogous species from retention times. A gradient separation procedure achieved on-column preconcentration and matrix removal for the interference-free detection of metal chelates down to low nanomolar concentration in samples from various fields of environmental research.     

The Displacement of Sr from Organic Chelates by Hydroxide, Carbonate, and Calcium in Concentrated Electrolytes

The effects of calcium, hydroxide, and carbonate on the displacement of Sr from four organic chelates: ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid (EDTA), N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenedinitrilotriacetic acid (HEDTA) nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and iminidiacetic acid (IDA) was studied in solutions with high base and carbonate concentration. Comparison of solutions with and without added chelators allowed the speciation changes in solution to be directly determined. Increases in both carbonate and calcium concentration were effective in displacing Sr from the chelators even under high carbonate concentration. Increases in hydroxide were ineffective in removal of Sr from the chelators, even at base concentrations as high as 6M. Under certain specific conditions, most notably when both CaCO₃(s) and SrCO₃(s) are present in solution, chemical equilibrium constraints result in cancelation of activity coefficient changes for aqueous Sr and Ca organic chelate complexes. Under such conditions the predicted ratios of chelated Ca and Sr become independent of the ionic media and predictive relations using known equilibrium constants give very good representations of the experimental data. These results indicate that manipulation of metal ion displacement reactions during chemical processing of Sr–chelate solutions can result in the displacement of Sr from organic chelators. The implications of such strategies in processing high level waste supernatants stored at Department of Energy (DOE) sites is discussed.     

Confirmation of vanadium complex formation using electrospray mass spectrometry and determination of vanadium speciation by sample stacking capillary electrophoresis

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with UV detection was used to determine vanadium species. Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (PDCA) were investigated to determine whether these ligands formed stable anionic complexes with vanadium. Of all the ligands studied HEDTA was the most suitable ligand because it gave the largest UV response with reasonable migration time. Electrospray mass spectrometry (ES-MS) was used to confirm the formation of [VO₂(HEDTA)]²⁻ and [VO(HEDTA)]¹⁻ in solution. An electrolyte containing 25 mM phosphate, 0.25 mM tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) at pH 5.5 was optimum for the separation of these anionic vanadium complexes. Sample stacking techniques, including large-volume sample stacking (LVSS) and field-amplified sample injection (FASI), were tested to improve the sensitivity. Best sensitivity was obtained using FASI, with detection limits of 0.001 μM, equivalent to 0.4 μg L⁻¹, for [VO₂(HEDTA)]²⁻ and 0.01 μM, equivalent to 3.4 μg L⁻¹ for [VO(HEDTA)]¹⁻. The utility of the method for the speciation of V(IV) and V(V) was demonstrated using ground water samples.     

Étude thermodynamique de la complexation des lanthanides trivalents avec l'acide hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetique et d'autres acides aminoacetiques: III. Détermination des Constantes de Formation des Complexes Mixtes par Titrage Potentiométrique

A thermodyrmmic study of the complex formation of trivaient lanthanides with hydroxyethylethyienediaminetriacetic acid and other aminoacetic acids. Part III. The determination of the formation constants of mixed complexes by potentiometric titration.The partial stability constants of the mixed and 1:2 complexes Ln—HEDTA—L (where Ln = La, Ce,... and L = glycine, IMDA, NTA, HEDTA and EDTA) have been determined by potentiometric titration at 25°C and at a constant ionic strength of 1 (KCl). The changes in stability of the complexes studied (1:1, 1:2, mixed, protonated and unprotonated) vs. atomic number of the lanthanide are discussed. The changes observed in the trends of the partial and overall stability constants across the lanthanide series are attributed to the decrease in the number of water molecules in the 1:1 LnHEDTA ·xH₂O from x = 3 for light lanthanides to x = 2 for heavy ones. However, in this 1:1 complex, HEDTA seems to be a hexadeutate ligand in the La—Sm range of the series and a pentadentate ligand in the Gd—Lu range. Significant differences have been found between the complexes containing four nitrogen atoms, i.e. L = HEDTA, EDTA, and those with three nitrogen atoms i.e. L = glycine, IMDA, NTA.     

Ethylenediaminetetraacetato-monoperoxo complexes of vanadium(V)

Summary The monoperoxo complexes, M₂[VO(HEDTA)(O₂)]· 4H₂O, where M is K⁺ or NH ₄ ⁺ and H₄EDTA is ethylene-diaminetetraacetic acid, were prepared and characterized by Raman and i.r. spectra in the solid state and in aqueous solution. The single crystal X-ray study revealed a pentagonal bipyramidal anion structure with a tetradentate HEDTA(3—) ligand. The decomposition of complexes in aqueous solution to blue vanadium(IV) complexes as end products proceeds via a nonperoxo complex of vanadium.     

GC–MS Measurement of 13C-Enrichment of Lactic Acid in Sepsis Plasma

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome arising from infection. The plasma lactic acid level is a reliable marker of sepsis. A novel procedure based on microwave-assisted derivatization followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) has been developed for the rapid measurement of ¹³C-isotope enrichment of lactic acid in plasma. The derivatization conditions and method validation were studied. The method was applied to the measurements of isotopic enrichment of lactic acid in the plasma of a rabbits which had received the tracer ([1,2,3-¹³C₃] lactic acid) by carotid infusion 2.5 h before blood sampling from the portal vein. These results show that the proposed method has excellent precision (RSD less than 4.57%), linearity (slope = 0.9936; r ² = 0.9998), accuracy and selectivity. The analytical results show that microwave-assisted derivatization coupled to GC–MS is a rapid method for the direct isotopic measurement of deproteinised plasma. The method could be of great interest for metabolic studies in animal models and human patients.     

Determination of aminopolycarboxylic acids at ultra-trace levels by means of online coupling ion exchange chromatography and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry with indirect detection via their Pd-complexes

A new indirect IC-ICP-MS method for the determination of aminopolycarboxylic acids in water samples is described. It is based on the addition of an excess of Pd(II) to water samples. The analytes are forced into very strong and negatively charged palladium complexes, separated by ion exchange chromatography and detected by their palladium content, utilizing an on-line coupled ICP-MS. This method is suitable to determine the concentration of 8 aminopolycarboxylic acids (nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), (2-carboxyethyl) iminodiacetic acid (β-ADA), methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), 2-hydroxyethyl) ethylenediamine triacetic acid (HEDTA), diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA), ethylendiamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), 1,3-diaminopropane tetraacetic acid (1,3-PDTA) and 1,2-diaminopropane tetraacetic acid (1,2-PDTA) at the ng kg⁻¹ level. The method is faster and easier than the established gas chromatography (GC)-method ISO 16588:2002 [1] and up to two orders of magnitude more sensitive than the ion pair chromatography based method of DIN 38413-8. Analytic performance is superior to ISO 16588:2002 and the comparability is good.     

p-Tolyl isocyanate derivatization for analysis of CWC-related polar degradation products by mass spectrometry

Most of the precursors and/or degradation products related to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) are polar. Identification of these molecules in environmental samples provides clues regarding the alleged usage and/or synthesis of the parent toxic chemicals. Such polar compounds need to be derivatized in order to analyze them by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). In this study, we developed a new derivatizing reagent, para-tolyl isocyanate (PTI), for derivatization of polar CWC-related compounds. The PTI reagent selectively derivatizes the –OH and/or?SH functional groups with high efficiency, but does not react with carboxylic acid (?COOH) or phosphonic acid (?(O)P(OH)₂) groups. The PTI derivatives of dialkyl aminoethanols, dialkyl aminoethanol-N-oxides, and 3-quinuclidinol were successfully eluted through GC, and their electron ionization (EI) mass spectra were distinct and provided the structure information by which the isomeric compounds can be easily distinguished. We also calculated the GC-retention index values that can be used for further confirmation of the target compounds. All the studied PTI derivatives can be analyzed by EI-MS with direct insertion probe and/or by direct electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) together with the MS–MS data; both sets of data provide full structure information. The PTI reagent was found to be better in some respects than the conventional bistrimethylsilyl trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA), a trimethyl silylating reagent. The PTI reagent is commercially available, and the PTI derivatives are highly stable for months and are not sensitive to moisture. The applicability of the PTI derivatization for trace-level determination of the target CWC-related polar compounds in environmental matrices and in human plasma samples is also evaluated.

Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of the essential oil of Houttuynia cordata Thunb by using on-column methylation with tetramethylammonium acetate

This paper describes a simple and novel on-column derivatization procedure used with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for the analysis of essential oil of Houttuynia cordata Thunb (HCT), a traditional Chinese medicine. In the procedure, the essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation, and the fatty acid components were derivatized with tetramethylammonium acetate (TMAA) at 250 degrees C and identified by GC/MS. Methylation improved the determination of both the fatty acids and the other components in the essential oil of HCT. To obtain optimum methylation conditions, several important factors were investigated with pentadecane as the internal standard and a GC inlet temperature of 250 degres C. Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) and TMAA were compared as the derivatization agent, and a 2:1 ratio of TMAA to capric acid was evaluated. Fatty acid methyl esters produced good chromatographic peak shapes and did not interfere with the determination of dodecanal and caryophyllene. TMAA is a neutral methylation reagent, and it yielded no side reactions during derivatization. It was found that the fatty acid content of the essential oil was about 81%; among the methylated fatty acids found were capric acid, methyl (43.66%), methyl laurate (16.15%), methyl hexadecanoate (9.27%), undecanoic acid, methyl (5.62%), methyl oleate (1.98%), and methyl linoleate (1.40%). Other major constituents were (-)-beta-pinene (1.02%), beta-myrcene (1.62%), 1-terpinen-4-ol (1.59%), decanal (1.49%), and 2-undecanone (1.47%). The results obtained demonstrated good efficiency for the procedure. Pure chromatograms allowed quantitation, which was obtained by total volume integration. The on-column derivatization procedure was simple to perform, and it improved the sensitivity, the peak resolution, and the selectivity of the GC/MS determination.     

The gamma-radiolysis of HEDTA in a simulated, mixed waste

The -radiolysis of the parent compound N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriaceticacid (HEDTA) in a simulant of a Hanford mixed waste, at a -dose of7.5 . 10₆±10% R, yielded 94.4% degradation. HEDTA radiolysisyielded four degradation products: glyoxylic acid, N-( nitroso)iminodiaceticacid (NIDA) and 2 dicarboxylic acids, ethandioic (oxalic) and propandioic(malonic) acids. Glyoxylic acid had been identified in previous studies byour laboratory as N-hydroxymethyl-N-methyliminoacetic acid (HMMIA). Promptedby studies from another laboratory, the chelator fragment previously reportedby our laboratory as N-(methylamine)iminodiacetic acid (MAIDA) is re-identifiedas NIDA. A methylamine moiety previously believed to be present in MAIDA,and several other chelator fragments, as well, has been re-identified as anitroso group.     

Speciation of heavy metals in environmental water by ion chromatography coupled to ICP–MS

Biogenic (e.g. phytochelatins, porphyrins, DOM) as well as anthropogenic (e.g. NTA, EDTA, phosphonates) chelators affect the mobility and cycling of heavy metals in environmental waters. Since such chelators can form strongly bound anionic heavy metal complexes that are stable and highly mobile, anion-exchange chromatography coupled to ICP-MS was investigated. A narrow bore HPLC system was connected to a micro concentric nebuliser for in-line sample introduction. A new chromatographic procedure based on a synthetic hydrophilic quaternary ammonium anion exchanger in combination with nitrate as a strong eluent anion, and gradient elution, provided high separation selectivity and a large analytical window. Low detection limits (nmol L(-1)) were achieved by on-column matrix removal and sample preconcentration. This allowed the method to be successfully applied to different environmental research areas. In ecotoxicological studies of heavy metal effects on algae low concentrations of metal EDTA complexes were determined in nutrient solutions without interference from high (buffer) salt concentrations. In groundwater, infiltrated by a polluted river, mobile metal EDTA species were observed. In river water of different pollution levels beside CuEDTA other anionic Cu-complexes were found in nmol L(-1) concentrations.     

Analysis of an egyptian mummy resin by mass spectrometry

Fast atom bombardment combined with mass spectrometry (FAB/MS), high resolution FAB/MS, FAB tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were used to determine the composition of the resinous material recovered from the wrappings of an Egyptian mummy believed to be from the Roman period (100–350 A.D.). FAB/MS and MS/MS studies identified several oxidation products of abietic acid as the principal resin components, indicating that one or more species of coniferous trees were used by the Egyptians as a source of the resin. GC/MS studies also identified several n-alkanes with carbon numbers from C₁₉ to C₃₃ in the sample. The relative amounts of these n-alkanes, along with characteristic trace metals, indicate that bitumen, an asphalt native to the region, was added to the resin. The presence of this ancient source of carbon in this sample explains the inconsistent date assigned to the mummy by carbon-14 analysis.     

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in quantifying fatty acids

This critical overview covers current analytical methods and future developments in quantitative determination of fatty acids (FAs), emphasizing sample extraction, derivatization and instrumental analysis with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS²). We compare the benefits and the drawbacks of these two analytical techniques.We consider the well-established GC/MS method with pre-derivatization to be a traditional technique in terms of highly standardized sample-preparation procedures, affordability and readily available library searching for compound identification. However, the complicated derivatization steps required prior to instrumental analysis with GC/MS take a long time, with loss and transformation of FAs, low recovery and poor reproducibility.HPLC/MS² without derivatization shows the benefits of simple, mild sample-processing conditions, satisfactory recovery, short running time and high selectivity and sensitivity, which may allow it to become a viable alternative to GC/MS for the analysis of FAs in the years ahead.     

Stereochemical analysis of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and its main metabolites by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is consumed as the racemate but some metabolic steps are enantioselective. In addition, chiral properties are preserved during MDMA biotransformation. A quantitative analytical methodology using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to determine enantioselective disposition in the body of MDMA and its main metabolites including 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyamphetamine (HMA) was developed. Plasma and urine samples were collected from a male volunteer. The analysis of MDMA, MDA, and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy metabolites by GC/MS required a two-step derivatization procedure. The first step consisted of derivatization of the amine with enantiomerically pure Mosher's reagent ((R)-MTPCl). Triethylamine was used as a base to neutralize hydrochloric acid formed during the reaction allowing quantitative derivatization, which resulted in a substantial improvement in the sensitivity of the method compared with other previously described techniques. Further treatment with ammonium hydroxide was required since both amine and hydroxyl groups underwent derivatization in the reaction. Ammonium hydroxide breaks bonds formed with hydroxyl groups without affecting amine derivatives. The second derivatization step using hexamethyldisilazane was needed for metabolites containing phenol residues. This derivatization method permitted the stereochemically specific study of MDMA and its main monohydroxylated metabolites by GC/MS. A detailed study of the chemical reactions involved in the derivatization steps was indispensable to develop a straightforward, sensitive, and reproducible method for the analysis of the parent drug compound and its metabolites.     

Constantes de formation des complexes de stoechiometrie 1:1 et 1:2 ainsi que des complexes mixtes formes entre le plutonium(III) et divers acides amino-polyacetiques

Determination of the formation constants of 1:1, 1:2 and mixed complexes between plutonium(III) and various aminopolyacetic acids The complexation of plutonium(III) with various aminopolyacetic acids is investigated by potentiometric titration at 25°C and at a constant ionic strength of 1 (KC1). The formation constants of the 1:1 complexes are reported for NTA, HEDTA, EDTA, DCTA and DTPA. The formation constants of the 1:2 complexes with NTA, HEDTA and EDTA as well as those of the mixed complexes formed between Pu(HEDTA) or Pu(EDTA) and NTA, IMDA or glycine are also reported. Several pK values of the 1:1, 1:2 and mixed complexes have been determined. These results are discussed within the framework of those obtained previously with the lanthanides.     

Speciation of Zn‐aminopolycarboxylic complexes by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and ion chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The speciation of Zn‐aminopolycarboxylic complexes was investigated using both electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) and ion chromatography (IC) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). The resulting ESI mass spectra indicated that [Zn(HEDTA)]^1?, [Zn(NTA)]^1?, [Zn(EDTA)]^2? and [Zn(DTPA)]^3? were all simultaneously detected in solution; [Zn(NTA)]^1? exhibited the weakest intensity of all these Zn‐aminopolycarboxylic complexes. IC/ICP‐MS was also successfully used to separate Zn complexes by anion‐exchange chromatography using a mobile phase containing 30 mM (NH₄)₂HPO₄ at pH 7.5 giving reasonable resolution within 15 min. A weak peak attributable to the poor stability [Zn(NTA)]^1? ion was also observed using IC/ICP‐MS. With the exception of [Zn(NTA)]^1?, detection limits ranging from 0.5 to 1.0 µg/L were obtained and the proposed method was used for the determination of Zn aminopolycarboxylic complexes in soil solution. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Degradation of chelating and complexing agents in an irradiated,simulated mixed waste

A simulant of an actual mixed waste was prepared and used to study organic degradation in nuclear wastes. Citric acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA) were added to an inorganic matrix, which contained no radionuclides. This simulated waste was then -irradiated in a⁶⁰Co-source up to 100 hours. The organics degraded exponentially at first, before tapering off; 80% had disappeared by 100 hours. Numerous degradation products (27 in all), mainly complexor and chelator fragments, ranging from small to complex species, were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The waste's total organic content decreased with increasing radiation, indicating that radiolytic degradation is dispersive.     

Simultaneous determination of dimethylarsinic acid and monomethylarsonic acid after derivatization with thioglycol methylate by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method has been developed to determine two methylated arsenic species in human urine samples. The yield of derivatization for dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) using thioglycol methylate (TGM) was measured. The detection limit for the derivatized DMA and MMA using the GC/MS method are 0.95 and 0.8 ng cm-3, respectively. This simple and rapid method has good precision and accuracy. Fragmentation routes of derivatized MMA and DMA are suggested on accurate mass measurements.