Elimination of suction effect in interfacing microchip electrophoresis with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using porous monolithic plugs

A suction-free interfacing method was developed for microchip electrophoresis hyphenated with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MCE-ICP-MS). The hyphenated system was composed of a microchip, a demountable capillary microflow nebulizer (d-CMN) combined with a heated single pass spray chamber, a negative pressure sampling device, a high voltage power supply, a syringe pump and an ICP-MS. To eliminate the nebulizer suction generated by the pneumatic nebulizer and to ensure that the makeup solution flowed into the nebulizer, two porous polymer plugs were fabricated in the microchip. As a result, reasonably true electropherograms were obtained when compared to the CE separation performed in the traditional MCE-ICP-MS mode without porous polymer plugs. Electrophoretic separation of I(-) and IO(3)(-) was achieved within 25 s in a microchip with an effective separation length of only 15 mm at an electric field of 857 V cm(-1) using 10 mmol L(-1) borate (pH 9.2) as the running buffer. A resolution of 1.3 was obtained and the absolute detection limits for I(-) and IO(3)(-) were 0.12 and 0.13 fg, respectively. The precisions (RSD, n = 10) of the migration time and peak height for I(-) and IO(3)(-) were in the range of 1.1-1.6% and 2.5-2.8%, respectively. Two table salt samples were analyzed by an external calibration method. The iodate contents were in accordance with their labeled values. The recoveries of I(-) and IO(3)(-) in the table salt samples were in the range of 92-105%.     

Use of a parallel path nebulizer for capillary-based microseparation techniques coupled with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer for speciation measurements

A low flow, parallel path Mira Mist CE nebulizer designed for capillary electrophoresis (CE) was evaluated as a function of make-up solution flow rate, composition, and concentration, as well as the nebulizer gas flow rate. This research was conducted in support of a project related to the separation and quantification of cobalamin (vitamin B-12) species using microseparation techniques combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) detection. As such, Co signals were monitored during the nebulizer characterization process. Transient effects in the ICP were studied to evaluate the suitability of using gradients for microseparations and the benefit of using methanol for the make-up solution was demonstrated. Co signal response changed significantly as a function of changing methanol concentrations of the make-up solution and maximum signal enhancement was seen at 20% methanol with a 15 μl/min flow rate. Evaluation of the effect of changing the nebulizer gas flow rates showed that argon flows from 0.8 to 1.2 l/min were equally effective. The Mira Mist CE parallel path nebulizer was then evaluated for interfacing capillary microseparation techniques including capillary electrophoresis (CE) and micro high performance liquid chromatography (μHPLC) to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A mixture of four cobalamin species standards (cyanocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, methylcobalamin, and 5′ deoxyadenosylcobalamin) and the corrinoid analogue cobinamide dicyanide were successfully separated using both CE-ICP-MS and μHPLC-ICP-MS using the parallel path nebulizer with a make-up solution containing 20% methanol with a flow rate of 15 μl/min.     

Coupling of capillary electrophoresis with ICP-MS for speciation investigations

An online hyphenation of capillary electrophoresis (CE) with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is developed, using a homemade nebulizer as the interface. The high resolution power of CE is used for the separation of metal species, whereas ICP-MS is taken for element specific detection with low detection limits. Metal species of standard solutions and real samples are separated and monitored by UV and ICP-MS. After optimization, electropherograms with high resolution were obtained, showing low detection limits around 1 μg/L (e.g. Pt-species) and very high resolution. Typical analysis times were below 22 min. Quality control aspects concerned species stability during the analytical procedure and stability of electrical current during nebulization. A possible interfering suction flow was estimated and found to be negligible. Received: 17 April 1996 / Revised: 12 June 1996 / Accepted: 20 June 1996     

Identification of a metallothionein in Synechococcus by capillary electrophoresis hyphenated with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

A home-made system hyphenating capillary electrophoresis with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (CE-ICP-MS) for cadmium speciation of protein-binding and free cadmium ions in solution is presented. The CE-ICP-MS interface consisted of an acrylic block with an internal volume ca. 20 microL in which a platinum electrode, a capillary column, and a connection to an ICP nebulizer were inserted. A make-up electrolyte solution containing 50 mmol L(-1) Tris-HCl buffer solution (pH 9.0) was continuously flowed through the interface to the ICP nebulizer. The separation of free Cd ions, Cd-cysteine, and Cd bounded to metallothionein (MT) isoforms from rabbit liver was carried out by capillary electrophoresis, and the analytes were detected by ICP-MS. The feasibility to isolate metallothionein compounds extracted from the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC7942 was demonstrated. The Cd binding proteins were induced in Synechococcus PCC7942 and further analyzed by CE ICP-MS.     

Separation of metalloporphyrins by capillary electrophoresis with UV detection and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric detection

Vitamin B12, cobalt protoporphyrin, manganese protoporphyrin, and zinc protoporphyrin were separated using capillary electrophoresis, and a comparison was made between detection with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and UV detection. Absolute limits of detection were slightly better with ICP-MS detection than with UV detection, but for both methods absolute detection limits were in the picogram range. The migration times of the analytes decreased by several minutes when ICP MS detection was employed, and this phenomenon was believed to be a result of a "suction effect" that developed when the CE capillary was interfaced to the ICP-MS nebulizer. However, the resolution between species containing the same metal atom was not altered significantly, and the separation was completed in much less time relative to separations performed with UV detection.     

Rapid speciation of iron by on-line coupling of short column capillary electrophoresis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with the collision cell technique

A method for rapid speciation analysis of iron was developed by on-line coupling of short column capillary electrophoresis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The collision cell technique was used to eliminate argon-based polyatomic interferences and a Micromist nebulizer was employed to increase the nebulization efficiency. Rapid speciation analysis of Fe(II) and Fe(III) was achieved within 1 min by short column capillary electrophoresis in a 14 cm x 50 microm id capillary at 28 kV voltage with a mixture of 15 mmol/L tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane + 1 mmol/L 1,10-phenanthroline + 1 mmol/L EDTA (pH 8.6) as running electrolyte. The precisions (RSD, n = 5) of migration time and peak area for Fe(II) and Fe(III) were in the range of 1.0 - 2.6 and 1.9 - 3.9%, respectively. The limits of detection (3sigma) of Fe(II) and Fe(III) were 10.0 and 8.3 microg/L, respectively.     

High efficiency nebulization for helium inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A pneumatically-driven, high efficiency nebulizer is explored for helium inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The aerosol characteristics and analyte transport efficiencies of the high efficiency nebulizer for nebulization with helium are measured and compared to the results obtained with argon. Analytical performance indices of the helium inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry are evaluated in terms of detection limits and precision. The helium inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection limits obtained with the high efficiency nebulizer at 200 μL/min are higher than those achieved with the ultrasonic nebulizer consuming 2 mL/min solution, however, precision is generally better with high efficiency nebulizer (1–4% vs. 3–8% with ultrasonic nebulizer). Detection limits with the high efficiency nebulizer at 200 μL/min solution uptake rate approach those using ultrasonic nebulizer upon efficient desolvation with a heated spray chamber followed by a Peltier-cooled multipass condenser.     

Capillary electrophoresis-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry: a report on technical principles and problem solutions, potential, and limitations of this technology as well as on examples of application

This paper summarizes some basic principles of capillary electrophoresis (CE), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and coupling of both devices. Especially the interfacing is described in detail. A special focus is drawn to various interface developments reported in literature and technical problems, i.e., requirements to the interface setup and respective solutions. Nowadays, typically sheath flow-based interfaces are used. The sheath flow fulfills two requirements of hyphenation, (i) the closing of the electrical circuit of CE and (ii) the feeding of the used nebulizer with an adequate flow rate. In the beginning of CE-ICP-MS coupling predominantly home-made interface-nebulizer constructions were developed and tested for various speciation problems. Now increasingly such laboratory-constructed interfaces are left. Mostly commercial nebulizers are employed being combined with commercially available tee or cross fittings to connect the CE capillary to the electrode, the additional sheath flow, and the nebulizer. Due to the low sample amounts and low flow rates from CE, such nebulizers are typically low-flow nebulizers like, e.g., the microconcentric nebulizer (MCN) and the direct injection nebulizer (DIN). However, there are also reports on couplings using standard Meinhard systems. Still the control and reduction of a siphoning sucting flow and sufficient detection limits are the major problems in hyphenating CE to ICP-MS. Different solutions are reported on these problems and summarized here. Finally numerous applications are reported. Mostly, applications are performed on speciation of selenium, arsenic, metallothionein isoforms, mercury, or cobalt.     

Determination of chloramphenicol in biological matrices by solid‐phase membrane micro‐tip extraction and capillary electrophoresis

Solid‐phase membrane micro‐tip extraction (SPMMTE) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) methods were developed and validated for analysis of chloramphenicol in human plasma and urine samples. Iron composite nanoparticles were prepared using green technology. CE was carried out using a silica capillary (60 cm × 50 μm i.d.), phosphate buffer (50 mm , 8.0 pH)–acetonitrile (95:5, v/v) as the background electrolyte, 10 kV voltage, 280 nm detection, 20 s injection time and 27 ± 1°C temperature. Frusemide was used as an internal standard. The values of migration time, electrophoretic mobility, electrophoretic velocity and theoretical plates of chloramphenicol were 12.254 min, 4.44 × 10, 7.41 × 10 and 11,227. The limits of detection and quantitation of chloramphenicol were 0.1 and 1.0 μg/mL. Recovery of chloramphenicol in the standard solution was 95%. Solid‐phase membrane micro‐tip extraction and capillary electrophoresis methods may be used to analyze chloramphenicol in human plasma and urine samples of any patient.     

HPLC-ICP-MS或HPLC-FAAS法分离测定硒化合物（英文）

 提出了一种用高效液相色谱（HPLC）分离和用电感偶合等离子体质谱仪（ICP－MS）或火焰原子吸收光谱仪（FAAS）作元素专一检测器在线测定硒的化学形态的方法。在优化的HPLC条件下,用ESAⅢ阴离子色谱柱（250mm×4．6mm）,以柠檬酸铵为流动相（5．5mmol／L,pH5．5,流速1．5mL／min）,进样量100μL,分离和测定三甲基硒离子、硒代蛋氨酸、亚硒酸和硒酸盐只需8min。HPLC－FAAS在线分析4种硒化合物的检测限为p（Se）=1mg／L。     

Quantification of phosphorus in DNA using capillary electrophoresis hyphenated with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

We have analyzed phosphorus in an enzymatically digested DNA molecule using capillary electrophoresis (CE) hyphenated with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The DNA concentration was quantified by the phosphorus value obtained in the CE-ICP-MS analysis. The CE-ICP-MS measurement, for which the interface device AIF-01 equipped three layered nebulizer was adopted, was achieved with limited μL/min nebulizing without loss of sample in the vaporizing chamber. The samples of nucleotides and free phosphate were separated well in the CE-ICP-MS measurement, and the calibration curve (0.1-10μg/mL) of the phosphorus showed a linear (R(2)=0.999) increase in intensity. After digestion of the 100-bp double-strand DNA sample to deoxyribonucleotide-5'-monophosphates (dNMPs) by phosphodiesterase-I, phosphorus was detected by CE-ICP-MS without further purification steps. In this study, we applied two calculation schemes of DNA analysis using a dNMP concentration obtained from CE-ICP-MS. Comparative CE-ICP-MS analysis with DNA digested to dNMPs showed that the assay gave an equal value obtained from the total DNA quantification using fluorescence detection. The detection limits of the DNA sample obtained from these species and phosphorus in nucleotides using CE-ICP-MS were 3.1-26ng/mL. These LOD values were equal to the conventional fluorescence determination of DNA.     

微流动注射进样-加热雾室-等离子体质谱测定血清中的铂

开发了一种基于雾化室加热的微流动注射进样系统,并用于血清中Pt的测定。该进样系统由微量毛细管雾化器、加热微型雾化室、八通道十六孔多功能旋转阀、蠕动泵和注射泵组成。研究了雾化室尺寸、加热温度和采样环体积对信号强度的影响。当雾化室内径为9 mm、加热段长度为6 cm,雾化室温度90 ℃,采样环体积为5 μL时,195Pt的信号强度提高了2.31倍,同时信号精密度从5.1%降至2.2%,并得到峰形良好的信号峰。该进样系统的试样消耗小、灵敏度和检出限均优于常规进样系统。10次测定10 μg/L的Pt标准溶液和血清样品溶液,峰高的RSD分别为2.9%和3.3%。该进样系统测得10个血清中的Pt含量与常规进样系统的测试结果无显著差异,在样品量稀少的情况下具有良好的应用价值。     

Optimization of the hyphenation between capillary zone electrophoresis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the measurement of As-, Sb-, Se- and Te-species,applicable to soil extracts

The optimization of the hyphenation between capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was studied for the simultaneous determination of metalloid species in the environment. Arsenic (arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid), selenium (selenite, selenate, selenomethionine, selenocystine), antimony (antimonate) and tellurium (tellurite, tellurate) species were simultaneously separated using a 75-μm i.d. fused silica capillary using either a chromate or a phosphate electrolyte. Different nebulizers were tested for introduction in the detector. A V-groove nebulizer (the Babington) and two concentric micronebulizers (the MCN-100 and the MicroMist) were studied in order to improve resolution, sensitivity and reproducibility. The optimization of CE-ICP-MS interface operating parameters is discussed for each nebulizer–interface combination, and special attention is given to the position of the capillary inside the nebulizer. Different nebulizer gas and liquid sheath flow rates were studied in detail and they hardly affect electrophoretic resolution and peak width. The best analytical performance characteristics were obtained with the MicroMist nebulizer. Detection limits with this nebulizer were found to range between 6 and 58 μg l⁻¹ depending on the species investigated using pressure injection and below 1 μg l⁻¹ for most of the species with electromigrative injection. Analysis of soil extracts showed that it was possible to carry out this technique on real samples.     

Hyphenation of capillary electrophoresis to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry as an element-specific detection method for metal speciation

A stepwise development for the use of capillary electrophoresis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for speciation investigations is presented. The high resolution power of CE is used for the separation of metal species, whereas ICP-MS is taken for element-specific detection with low detection limits. This contribution starts with an off-line combination of both instruments. Separation and identification of species in model solutions and real samples are shown by scanning UV detection at the CE unit with subsequent metal quantification in peak related fractions, applying electrothermal vaporization ICP-MS. Finally, first separations are demonstrated, using the on-line hyphenation with a laboratory-made nebulizer. Here, standard solutions are separated and monitored by UV and ICP-MS. Stability of electrical current during nebulization was checked and a possibly interfering suction flow was estimated. After optimization sufficient electropherograms were obtained. Advantages and problems are discussed for both modes.     

Determination of Impurity Cerium in K3Li2Nb5O15 Crystal by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

A method was presented for the determination by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) of Impurity Cerium in Potassium Lithium Niobate (K₃Li₂Nb₅O₁₅) Crystal. A standard model Perkin-Elmer/SCIEX ELAN 5000 ICP Mass Spectrometer was used. The instrument was operated at a RF power setting of 1.05 kW. A standard demountable quartz torch with 1.2mm id alumina injector tube was used with the following argon gas flow rates:nebulizer 0.84L/min,auxiliary 0.80L/min,and coolant 15.0L/min.     

Analysis of therapeutic peptides in human urine by combination of capillary zone electrophoresis-electrospray mass spectrometry with preparative capillary isotachophoresis sample pretreatment

The presented study deals with the off-line coupling of preparative isotachophoresis (pITP) with on-line combination of capillary zone electrophoresis with electrospray mass spectrometric detection (CZE-ESI-MS) used for the analysis of therapeutic peptides (anserine, carnosine, and buserelin) in complex matrix (urine). Preparative capillary isotachophoresis, operating in a discontinuous fractionation mode in column-coupling configuration, served as a sample pretreatment technique to separation, and fractionation of mixture of therapeutic peptides present in urine at low concentration level. The fractions isolated by pITP procedure were subsequently analyzed by capillary zone electrophoresis with electrospray mass spectrometric detection. Acetic acid at 200 mmol L(-1) concentration served as background electrolyte in CZE stage and it is compatible with MS detection in positive ionization mode. In pITP fractionation procedure, sodium cation (10 mmol L(-1) concentration) as leading ion and beta-alanine as terminating ion (20 mmol L(-1) concentration) were used. While using CZE-ESI-MS, the limits of detection were 0.18 μg mL(-1) for carnosine, 0.17 μg mL(-1) for anserine and 0.64 μg mL(-1) for buserelin in water and 0.19 μg mL(-1) for carnosine, 0.50 μg mL(-1) for anserine and 0.74 μg mL(-1) for buserelin in 10 times diluted urine, respectively. The cleaning power of pITP sample pretreatment was proved as the peptides provided the higher MS signals at lower concentration levels resulting from the minimized matrix effects. The quality of obtained MS/MS spectra was very good so that they can provide information about the structure of analytes, and they were used for verification of the analytes identities. The pITP pretreatment improved the detection limits of the analyzed therapeutic peptides at least 25 times compared to the CZE-ESI-MS itself.     

Determination of arsenic species in Solanum Lyratum Thunb using capillary electrophoresis with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A simple and highly efficient interface to couple capillary electrophoresis with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry by a microflow polyfluoroalkoxy nebulizer and a quadruple ion deflector was developed in this study. By using this interface, six arsenic species, including arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, arsenobetaine, and arsenocholine, were baseline‐separated and determined in a single run within 11 min under the optimized separation conditions. The instrumental detection limit was in the range of 0.02–0.06 ng/mL for the six arsenic compounds. Repeatability expressed as the relative standard deviation (n = 5) of both migration time and peak area were better than 2.5 and 4.3% for six arsenic compounds. The proposed method, combined with a closed‐vessel microwave‐assisted extraction procedure, was successfully applied for the determination of arsenic species in the Solanum Lyratum Thunb samples from Anhui province in China with the relative standard deviations (n = 5) ≤4%, method detection limits of 0.2–0.6 ng As/g and a recovery of 98–104%. The experimental results showed that arsenobetaine was the main speciation of arsenic in the Solanum Lyratum Thunb samples from different provinces in China, with a concentration of 0.42–1.30 μg/g.     

毛细管电泳-电感耦合等离子体质谱联用测定海藻中铅形态化合物

建立了毛细管电泳( CE)与电感耦合等离子体质谱( ICP-MS)联用技术测定铅离子( PbⅡ)、三甲基铅(TML)和三乙基铅(TEL)3种不同形态铅化合物的方法,以及海藻中不同形态铅化合物的提取技术,实现了海藻中3种铅形态化合物的定性定量分析。结果表明：以70 mmol/L H3BO3-17.5 mmol/L Na2B4O7(pH 8.90)为缓冲溶液,在最佳CE-ICP-MS条件下3种铅化合物20 min内可实现有效分离,重现性较好,迁移时间RSD﹤4%,峰面积的RSD﹤5%;在10~200μg/L 范围内3种铅化合物线性较好,相关系数大于0.90; PbⅡ、TML和TEL的CE-ICP-MS检出限(3S/N,以Pb计)分别为0.091,0.023和0.030μg/L;采用分步提取海藻中Pb元素,提取率高达80%以上,以藻体为基底 PbⅡ, TML 和 TEL 回收率分别为103.6%,95.7%和90.6%;通过检测紫菜和海带中铅含量,结果显示藻体内Pb主要以PbⅡ形式存在。本方法具有简单、高效、样品消耗量少等优点,可为海藻及其它海产品的质量控制提供技术支撑。     

Comparison of chromium speciation by CZE and ion exchange followed by AAS

The hydrogen chromate anion (HCrO₄ ^–), which is the predominant species in acidic solutions and solutions with low chromium concentration, was determined by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) using UV detection on-column at 200 nm. A fused-silica capillary (55 cm × 50 μm i.d.) was employed with a high negative voltage of 20 kV. Total chromium was determined after reduction by H₂O₂ and its complexation by EDTA. The use of H₂O₂ as reducing agent is advantageous, as it does not increase the conductivity of the solution. Detection limits achieved (for 200 s injection time) were 30 and 8 μg/L for Cr(VI) and Cr(III), respectively. The CZE results obtained for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were compared with those obtained by ion exchange with subsequent AAS.     

Determination of preservatives by integrative coupling method of headspace liquid-phase microextraction and capillary zone electrophoresis

An integrative coupling method of headspace liquid-phase microextraction (HS-LPME) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) was proposed in this paper. In the method, a separation capillary was used to create a microextraction droplet of the running buffer solution of CZE, hold the droplet at the capillary inlet, extract analytes of sample solutions in the headspace of a sample vial, inject concentrated analytes into the capillary and separate the analytes by CZE. The proposed method was applied to determine the preservatives of benzoic acid and sorbic acid in soy sauce and soft drink samples, in which the running buffer solution of 50 mmol/L tetraborate (pH 9.2) was directly used to form the acceptor droplet at the capillary inlet by pressure, and the preservatives in a 6-mL sample solution containing 0.25 g/mL NaCl were extracted at 90°C for 30 min in the headspace of a 14-mL sample vial. Then the concentrated preservatives were injected into the capillary at 10 cm height difference for 20 s and separated by CZE. The enrichment factors of benzoic acid and sorbic acid achieved 266 and 404, and the limits of detection (LODs) were 0.03 and 0.01 μg/mL (S/N=3), respectively. The recoveries were in the range of 88.7-105%. The integrative coupling method of HS-LPME and CZE was simple, convenient, reliable and suitable for concentrating volatile and semi-volatile organic acids and eliminating matrix interferences of real samples.