Ion exchange chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the study of Pt electro-dissolution

There is an ongoing debate regarding the mechanism of Pt electrochemical dissolution. However, only off-line methods have so far been used, where separation of Pt species is performed separately from their detection. In this study, ion exchange chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used for the first time to separate and detect Pt species generated by the electro-dissolution of a Pt electrode in 0.5 M aqueous H₂SO₄ solution. Because these species are either neutral or cationic, they were converted to chloro-complexes using 0.1 M KCl to enable their separation by anion exchange chromatography. Chloro-aqua complexes were observed in addition to the two predominant species, namely PtCl₄²⁻ and PtCl₆²⁻. A good linear relationship was observed between the sum of peak areas for all complexes of a given Pt oxidation state and the Pt concentration, with a detection limit of 0.1 μg L⁻¹ being reached for Pt(II) and Pt(IV). Application of this speciation analysis method to real samples generated by potential cycling using cyclic voltammetry (CV) revealed that, in general, at least 80% of Pt was present as Pt(II), irrespectively of the cyclic potential range or of temperature (up to 60 °C). Still, quantitative spike recovery was achieved after adding known amounts of Pt(II) or Pt(IV) to a sample prepared by CV, which demonstrated that no significant species inter-conversion took place.     

Capillary electrophoresis inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Chemical speciation (extraction of elemental information and identification of molecular environment for an analyte in a complex sample) has been a long sought after goal for analytical chemists. Recently, because of successful developments in more sensitive element-specific detectors and gentle separation schemes, which preserve the true chemical information in a real sample, routine speciation experiments are becoming a common occurrence in the scientific literature. For many reasons, the combination of capillary electrophoresis (for separation of different chemical species) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (for element and isotope specific detection) has emerged as the method of choice for these analyses. In this article the basic principles of capillary electrophoresis inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry are discussed. Design consideration for instrument interface, anticipated difficulties with speciation experiments and applications for specific matrices and analytes are also presented in this article.     

高效液相色谱-电感耦合等离子体质谱联用检测食品中的五种硒形态

建立了高效液相色谱-电感耦合等离子体质谱(HPLC-ICP-MS)联用检测硒酸盐(SeVI)、亚硒酸盐(SeIV)、硒代蛋氨酸(SeMet)、硒代胱氨酸(SeCys2)和硒代乙硫氨酸(SeEt)的方法。采用Hamilton PRP X-100色谱柱（250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm）,使用5 mmol/L的柠檬酸溶液(pH 4.5)作为流动相,电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)检测,在21 min内可以完全分离5种硒形态。各形态硒的线性相关系数均大于0.9995, SeVI、SeIV、SeMet、SeCys2、SeEt的检出限分别为0.4、0.4、5.6、0.9、1.2 μg/L。探讨了不同提取方法的提取效果,鲜蘑菇和猪肉样品加标回收实验表明,对水溶性良好的无机硒和硒代蛋氨酸而言,采用柠檬酸溶液提取的效果非常好,SeIV和SeVI的回收率均在100%左右,SeMet的回收率为85.0%～95.3%;用蛋白酶水解提取,SeCys2和SeEt的回收率为79.9%～91.5%。该方法可完全满足食品中这5种硒形态的准确定量分析。     

Lead determination in whole blood by laser ablation coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

This work describes a simple procedure for blood lead level determination. The proposed method requires little sample pretreatment and subsequent direct analysis of a dried blood spot on a filter membrane using laser ablation coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). In general, LA-ICP-MS studies are somewhat limited by the lack of matrix-matched standards for calibration purposes. Here we describe aqueous standard calibration and matrix-matched calibration methods. This method was validated by analysis of the reference materials. With the matrix-matched calibration method, the recovery ranged from 97.8% to 112.8%, while the aqueous standard calibration method ranged 90.4% to 122.4%. The lower detection limit was estimated as 0.1 ng mL⁻¹. The determination precision, expressed as the relative standard deviation (RSD), was not worse than 10% for all results. A sample throughput of approximately 5 min per sample made it possible to rapidly screen a large number of samples.     

Rapid determination of actinides in urine by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and alpha spectrometry: A hybrid approach

A new rapid separation method that allows separation and preconcentration of actinides in urine samples was developed for the measurement of longer lived actinides by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and short-lived actinides by alpha spectrometry; a hybrid approach. This method uses stacked extraction chromatography cartridges and vacuum box technology to facilitate rapid separations. Preconcentration, if required, is performed using a streamlined calcium phosphate precipitation. Similar technology has been applied to separate actinides prior to measurement by alpha spectrometry, but this new method has been developed with elution reagents now compatible with ICP-MS as well. Purified solutions are split between ICP-MS and alpha spectrometry so that long- and short-lived actinide isotopes can be measured successfully. The method allows for simultaneous extraction of 24 samples (including QC samples) in less than 3 h. Simultaneous sample preparation can offer significant time savings over sequential sample preparation. For example, sequential sample preparation of 24 samples taking just 15 min each requires 6 h to complete. The simplicity and speed of this new method makes it attractive for radiological emergency response. If preconcentration is applied, the method is applicable to larger sample aliquots for occupational exposures as well. The chemical recoveries are typically greater than 90%, in contrast to other reported methods using flow injection separation techniques for urine samples where plutonium yields were 70-80%. This method allows measurement of both long-lived and short-lived actinide isotopes. ²³⁹Pu, ²⁴²Pu, ²³⁷Np, ²⁴³Am, ²³⁴U, ²³⁵U and ²³⁸U were measured by ICP-MS, while ²³⁶Pu, ²³⁸Pu, ²³⁹Pu, ²⁴¹Am, ²⁴³Am and ²⁴⁴Cm were measured by alpha spectrometry. The method can also be adapted so that the separation of uranium isotopes for assay is not required, if uranium assay by direct dilution of the urine sample is preferred instead. Multiple vacuum box locations may be set-up to supply several ICP-MS units with purified sample fractions such that a high sample throughput may be achieved, while still allowing for rapid measurement of short-lived actinides by alpha spectrometry.     

Serum/plasma methylmercury determination by isotope dilution gas chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A method for the determination of methylmercury in plasma and serum samples was developed. The method uses isotope dilution with ¹⁹⁸Hg-labeled methylmercury, extraction into dichloromethane, back-extraction into water, aqueous-phase ethylation, purge and trap collection, thermal desorption, separation by gas chromatography, and mercury isotope specific detection by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. By spiking 2 mL sample with 1.2 ng tracer, measurements in a concentration interval of (0.007–2.9) μg L⁻¹ could be performed with uncertainty amplification factors <2. A limit of quantification of 0.03 μg L⁻¹ was estimated at 10 times the standard deviation of concentrations measured in preparation blanks. Within- and between-run relative standard deviations were <10% at added concentration levels of 0.14 μg L⁻¹, 0.35 μg L⁻¹ and 2.8 μg L⁻¹, with recoveries in the range 82–110%. Application of the method to 50 plasma/serum samples yielded a median (mean; range) concentration of methylmercury of 0.081 (0.091; <0.03–0.19) μg L⁻¹. This is the first time methylmercury has been directly measured in this kind of specimen, and is therefore the first estimate of a reference range.     

Elemental labelling combined with liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for quantification of biomolecules: A review

This article reviews novel quantification concepts where elemental labelling is combined with flow injection inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (FI-ICP-MS) or liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LC–ICP-MS), and employed for quantification of biomolecules such as proteins, peptides and related molecules in challenging sample matrices. In the first sections an overview on general aspects of biomolecule quantification, as well as of labelling will be presented emphasizing the potential, which lies in such methodological approaches. In this context, ICP-MS as detector provides high sensitivity, selectivity and robustness in biological samples and offers the capability for multiplexing and isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS). Fundamental methodology of elemental labelling will be highlighted and analytical, as well as biomedical applications will be presented. A special focus will lie on established applications underlining benefits and bottlenecks of such approaches for the implementation in real life analysis. Key research made in this field will be summarized and a perspective for future developments including sophisticated and innovative applications will given.     

Simultaneous separation and determination of thallium in water samples by high‐performance liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

An analytical method for separation and determination of thallium species in water using high‐performance liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was developed. The composition and concentration of mobile phase, injection volume, and pH value were optimized respectively with an anion or cation exchange column. The results showed that Tl(I) and Tl(III) were effectively separated using anion exchange column Hamilton PRP‐X100, with the mobile phase consisting of 200 mmol/L ammonium acetate and 10 mmol/L diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (pH = 4.2). When using a Dionex cation exchange guard column, CS12A, 15 mmol/L HNO₃, and 3 mmol/L diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid as the mobile phase, Tl(I) and Tl(III) could be effectively separated. The detection limits of the methods were 3–6 and 9–12 ng/L, respectively. In a solution containing Fe ions and oxalic acid, a significant quantity of Tl(I) was oxidized. Fe ions and oxalic acid in the water samples did not interfere with high‐performance liquid chromatography‐inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry measurement results.     

Development of cadmium/silver/palladium separation by ion chromatography with quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection for off-line cadmium isotopic measurements

A separation method was investigated to perform off-line cadmium isotopic measurements on a ¹⁰⁹Ag transmutation target. Ion chromatography (IC) with Q ICPMS detection (quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection) was chosen to separate cadmium from the isobarically interfering elements, silver and palladium, present in the sample. The optimization of chromatographic conditions was particularly studied. Several anion and cation columns (Dionex AG11^®, CS10^® and CS12^®) were compared with different mobile phases (HNO₃, HCl). The separation procedure was achieved with a carboxylate-functionalized cation exchange CS12 column using 0.5 M HNO₃ as eluent. The developed technique yielded satisfactory results in terms of separation factors (greater than 5) and provides an efficient solution to obtain rapidly purified cadmium fractions (decontamination factors higher 100,000 for silver and palladium) which can directly be analyzed by multi collection inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC ICPMS). By applying the proposed procedure, accurate and precise cadmium isotope ratios were determined for the irradiated ¹⁰⁹Ag transmutation target.     

电感耦合等离子体质谱技术最新进展

对1998年以来电感耦合等离子体质谱技术（ICP－MS）的最新进展作一简要回顾。内容包括同位素比值分析、双聚焦扇形磁场高分辨ICP－MS、多接收器磁扇形等离子体质谱仪（MC－ICP－MS）、飞行时间等离子体质谱仪（ICP－TOF－MS）、“冷”等离子体及屏蔽炬技术以及动态碰撞／反应池技术等进展。     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定高纯钼中12种杂质元素

采用反应池技术消除了复合离子对Ca、Fe和Si等元素的干扰,以内标校正法直接测定了其它9种元素。优化选择了测定同位素和内标元素,考察了基体效应对测定结果的影响,建立了电感耦合等离子体质谱测定了高纯钼中12种杂质元素含量的方法。方法测定下限介于0.10～0.37μg/g之间,加标回收率为93％～105％,RSD＜10％。...     

Coupling nanoliter high‐performance liquid chromatography to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for arsenic speciation

Nanoliter high‐performance liquid chromatography shows low consumption of solvents and samples, offering one of the best choices for arsenic speciation in precious samples in combination with inuctively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A systematic investigation on coupling nanoliter high‐performance liquid chromatography to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry from instrument design to injected sample volume and mobile phase was performed in this study. Nanoflow mobile phase was delivered by flow splitting using a conventional high‐pressure pump with reuse of mobile phase waste. Dead volume was minimized to 60 nL for the sheathless interface based on the previously developed nanonebulizer. Capillary columns for nanoliter high‐performance liquid chromatography were found to be sensitive to sample loading volume. An apparent difference was also found between the mobile phases for nanoliter and conventional high‐performance liquid chromatography. Baseline separation of arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsenic, and dimethylarsenic was achieved within 11 min on a 15 cm C₁₈ capillary column and within 12 min on a 25 cm strong anion exchange column. Detection limits of 0.9–1.8 μg/L were obtained with precisions variable in the range of 1.6–4.2%. A good agreement between determined and certified values of a certified reference material of human urine (GBW 09115) validated its accuracy along with good recoveries (87–102%).     

微波灰化-高效液相色谱-电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)法测定茶叶中的铬酸铅

为了准确测定茶叶中铬酸铅的含量,为市场监管提供判断依据,本文建立了微波灰化-高效液相色谱-电感耦合等离子体质谱仪测定茶叶中铬酸铅的方法。茶叶样品经微波灰化仪在500 ℃的条件下,灰化50 min后,用0.25 mol·L-1的NaOH和0.14 mol·L-1的Na2CO3混合碱性提取液在90 ℃-95 ℃温度下不间断搅拌提取10 min,提取液经色谱柱分离后,用ICP-MS测定52Cr。研究表明该方法在5.00 μg·L-1-500 μg·L-1范围内,线性良好,相关系数为0.9998,方法检出限低至2.5 mg·kg-1,三水平加标回收率为91.30 %～95.33 %,精密度在1.14 %～1.99 %之间。与电炉灼烧茶叶相比,微波灰化茶具有检出限低,精密度高,准确度良好等特性,能够满足茶叶中铬酸铅的测定。 关键词 微波灰化;高效液相色谱-电感耦合等离子体质谱法;铬酸铅;茶叶     

电感耦合等离子体-质谱法测定高纯硫粉末中17种痕量杂质

建立电感耦合等离子体-质谱(ICP-MS)法测定高纯硫粉中Si、P、V、Cr、Mn、Ni、Co、Cu、As、Zn、Zr、Cd、In、Sb、Te、Pb、Bi等17种痕量金属杂质含量的方法。样品用HClO4溶解后挥发硫基体,使样品中杂质元素得到富集,各杂质元素的方法检出限为0.1～50ng/g。方法加标回收率为83%～117%。各杂质元素均为10ng/mL的混合标准溶液平行7次测定的相对标准偏差均小于5%。该方法能够满足纯度为99.999%～99.9999%的高纯硫样品中杂质测定的需要。     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定花生中34种元素

建立了微波消解-碰撞/反应池(ORS)电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICP-MS)同时测定花生中的Na、Mg、Ca、Fe、Se、Mo和稀土元素等34种元素的分析方法。样品经微波消解后,在线加入内标元素45Sc、72Ge、103Rh、115In和209Bi消除基体效应,应用碰撞反应池技术,以4.5 mL/min流速的氦气作为碰撞反应气,有效消除多原子离子产生的质谱干扰。各元素的检出限为0.0003～17.37ng/mL,相对标准偏差(RSD)低于2.9%;标准物质的测定值均在标准值范围内,结果令人满意。该方法可用于花生中多种元素的同时测定。     

Determination of phosphorus using capillary electrophoresis and micro-high-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the quantification of nucleotides

We performed the quantification of phosphorus in deoxynucleotides using capillary electrophoresis (CE) and micro-HPLC (μHPLC) hyphenated with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). DNA and its component units have conventionally been determined by photometry; however, more selective and sensitive methods are needed for small biological samples. CE and μHPLC offer the advantages of good separation and small consumption of samples, and ICP-MS is a highly sensitive technique for the determination of a chemical element. Therefore, we have developed an interface device for combining CE and μHPLC with ICP-MS for quantifying nucleotides based on phosphorus content. The interface utilizes 4.5 μL/min for nebulizing and effective introduction of the sample into ICP. The samples of nucleotides and free phosphoric acid were well separated in the CE–ICP-MS measurement, and the calibration curves (1–100 μg/mL) of the nucleotides showed a linear (R² > 0.999) increase in intensity. Similarly, the samples of nucleotides were baseline separated using μHPLC–ICP-MS, and the calibration curves of the nucleotides were linear (R² > 0.998). The detection limits of these species and phosphorus in nucleotides using CE–ICP-MS and μHPLC–ICP-MS were 0.77–6.5 ng/mL and 4.0–6.5 ng/mL, respectively. These values were about one or two orders lower than those in a previous report. The sample volumes of these experiments were calculated to be about 10 nL and 50 nL per analysis. Therefore, these analytical methods have the potential to be useful for the determination of biological samples, such as DNA and RNA molecules.     

Determination of mercurial species in fish by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with anion exchange chromatographic separation

This work demonstrated the feasibility of mercury speciation analysis by anion exchange chromatographic separation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection. For the first time, by complexing with the mobile phase containing 3-mercapto-1-propanesulfonate into negatively charged complexes, fast separation of inorganic mercury (Hg²⁺), monomethylmercury (MeHg), ethylmercury (EtHg) and phenylmercury (PhHg) was achieved within 5 min on a 12.5-mm strong anion exchange column. The detection limits for Hg²⁺, MeHg, EtHg and PhHg were 0.008, 0.024, 0.029 and 0.034 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The relative standard deviations of peak height and peak area (5.0 μg L⁻¹ for each Hg species) were all below 3%. The determined contents of Hg²⁺, MeHg and total Hg in a certified reference material of fish tissue by the proposed method were in good accordance with the certified values with satisfactory recoveries. The relative errors for determining MeHg and total mercury were −2.4% and −1.2%, respectively, with an acceptable range for spike recoveries of 94–101%. Mercury speciation in 11 fish samples were then analyzed after the pretreated procedure. The mercury contents in all fish samples analyzed were found compliant with the criteria of the National Standards of China.     

Determination of rare-earth elements in uranium-bearing materials by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A novel and simple analytical procedure has been developed for the trace-level determination of lanthanides (rare-earth elements) in uranium-bearing materials by inductively coupled plasma sector-field mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS). The method involves a selective extraction chromatographic separation of lanthanides using TRU™ resin followed by ICP-SFMS analysis. The limits of detection of the method proposed is in the low pg g⁻¹ range, which are approximately two orders of magnitude better than that of without chemical separation. The method was validated by the measurement of reference material and applied for the analysis of uranium ore concentrates (yellow cakes) for nuclear forensic purposes, as a potential application of the methodology.     

Quantification of trace elements in human serum fractions by liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

On‐line coupling of LC and ICP‐MS has been used for fractionation and detection of species of Cu, Fe, I, Se and Zn in human serum. It has been shown that anion exchange chromatography provided better separation capability (both intra‐ and inter‐element) than size‐exclusion chromatography. The mobile phases for ion exchange chromatography consisted of Tris–HNO₃ buffer and ammonium salt (nitrate, acetate or formate). Formate was found to be the best mobile phase counter ion, enabling good chromatographic separation, and is acceptable for mass spectrometry too. The quantitative evaluation of element concentrations adhering to individual fractions was performed by the peak area normalization method. The repeatability of results ranged from 3 to 15% (depending on the element concentration level) and represented the main part of the result uncertainty. The accuracy of Cu and Zn fraction determinations was confirmed by comparison with the isotope dilution technique. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)法测定锆钛矿中的铪

锆钛矿组成成分复杂,存在耐高温的锆、钛化合物,不易分解,且铪以类质同象进入锆矿物,导致锆钛矿中的铪含量不均,因此完全分解锆钛矿并准确测定其中含量不同的铪成为一个难题。本文建立了碳酸钠-硼砂高温熔融,以178Hf为分析同位素及50 ng/mL185Re为内标,使用电感耦合等离子体质谱法（ICP-MS）测定锆钛矿中铪的新方法,可准确锆钛矿中含量不均的铪。实验研究了锆钛矿成分及其熔融方法,结果表明碳酸钠-硼砂高温熔融效果最好,可完全溶解耐高温难分解的锆钛矿,当碳酸钠-硼砂质量配比为2:1时熔融效果最佳。电感耦合等离子体质谱法具有检出限低、灵敏度高、线性范围宽等优势,可用于测定锆钛矿中含量不均的铪,ICP-MS蠕动泵转速为45 rpm、雾化流量为1.06 L/min时雾化效率最优。在选定的实验条件下,HfO2质谱强度与其质量浓度在0.01～250 ng/mL范围内呈良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.9997,背景等效浓度为0.029 ng/mL,方法检出限为0.0032 ng/mL。按实验方法对中国国家标准物质中的HfO2进行测定,测定值与认定值一致,相对标准偏差在1.6%~3.2%之间。按实验方法对锆钛矿样品中的HfO2进行测定并进行加标回收率实验,测定结果的相对标准偏差（RSDs,n=9）在0.9～3.4%之间,加标回收率在96%～106%之间,满足国家地质矿产行业标准DZ/T 0130—2006的要求。