A study of method robustness for arsenic speciation in drinking water samples by anion exchange HPLC-ICP-MS

Regulating arsenic species in drinking waters is a reasonable objective, since the various species have different toxicological impacts. However, developing robust and sensitive speciation methods is mandatory prior to any such regulations. Numerous arsenic speciation publications exist, but the question of robustness or ruggedness for a regulatory method has not been fully explored. The present work illustrates the use of anion exchange chromatography coupled to ICP-MS with a commercially available "speciation kit" option. The mobile phase containing 2 mM NaH(2)PO(4) and 0.2 mM EDTA at pH 6 allowed adequate separation of four As species (As(III), As(V), MMAA, DMAA) in less than 10 min. The analytical performance characteristics studied, including method detection limits (lower than 100 ng L(-1) for all the species evaluated), proved the suitability of the method to fulfill the current regulation. Other parameters evaluated such as laboratory fortified blanks, spiked recoveries, and reproducibility over a certain period of time produced adequate results. The samples analyzed were taken from water utilities in different areas of the United States and were provided by the U.S. EPA. The data suggests the speciation setup performs to U.S. EPA specifications but sample treatment and chemistry are also important factors for achieving good recoveries for samples spiked with As(III) as arsenite and As(V) as arsenate.     

CZE for the speciation of arsenic in aqueous soil extracts

We developed two separation methods using CZE with UV detection for the determination of the most common inorganic and methylated arsenic species and some phenylarsenic compounds. Based on the separation method for anions using hydrodynamic sample injection the detection limits were 0.52, 0.25, 0.27, 0.12, 0.37, 0.6, 0.6, 1.2 and 1.0 mg As/L for phenylarsine oxide (PAO), p-aminophenylarsonic acid (p-APAA), o-aminophenylarsonic (o-APAA), phenylarsonic acid (PAA), 4-hydroxy-3-nitrobenzenearsonic acid (roxarsone), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), arsenite or arsenious acid (As(III)) and arsenate (As(V)), respectively. These detection limits were improved by large-volume sample stacking with polarity switching to 32, 28, 14, 42, 22, 27, 26 and 27 microg As/L for p-APAA, o-APAA, PAA, roxarsone, MMA, DMA, As(III) and As(V), respectively. We have applied both methods to the analysis of the arsenic species distribution in aqueous soil extracts. The identification of the arsenic species was validated by means of both standard addition and comparison with standard UV spectra. The comparison of the arsenic species concentrations in the extracts determined by CZE with the total arsenic concentrations measured by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) indicated that CZE is suited for the speciation of arsenic in environmental samples with a high arsenic content. The extraction yield of phenylarsenic compounds from soil was derived from the arsenic concentrations of the aqueous soil extracts and the total arsenic content of the soil determined by ICP-AES after microwave digestion. We found that 6-32% of the total amount of arsenic in the soil was extractable by a one-step extraction with water in dependence on the type of arsenic species.     

Extraction method for arsenic speciation in marine organisms

Three extraction systems have been assayed to extract arsenic species from biological marine sample, using methanol, methanol-chloroform (1:1) and methanol-water (1:1) as solvents. From a comparative study methanol-water 1:1 was chosen. A clean-up of the raw extract using C₁₈ cartridges is proposed. The results obtained from flounder (Pleuronectes platessa), sole (Solea solea), mussel (Mytilus edulis) and cockle (Cardium edule) are reported.     

The chromatographic behavior of arsenic compounds on anion exchange columns with binary organic acids as mobile phases

Summary Identification and quantification of arsenic compunds was performed with high- performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) as element-specific detector. Arsenous acid, methylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, arsenic acid, arsenobetaine, and arsenocholine were separated on two anion-exchange columns (Synchropak Q 300 and PRP-X 100) with different binary organic acids as mobile phases. The infleunce of chromatographic parameters, such as pH and the concentration of the mobile phase were investigated. An unusual chromatographic behavior of arsenous acid was observed when tartaric acid was used as mobile phase.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for isolating organic contaminants from tissue and sediment extracts

Interest in the assessment of the anthropogenic contamination of the marine environment has accelerated in recent years. Existing methods to analyze environmental samples (e.g., sediments or tissues) for trace amounts of organic contaminants such as aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated compounds are tedious and costly. We report a rapid, efficient high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure which uses a size-exclusion column to separate the analytes of interest from interfering compounds in the sample matrix. Analytical results from the HPLC method were, in general, comparable to a gravity-column method which had been used for several years. The HPLC method had several other advantages: improved precision; the ability to monitor chromatographic conditions; the potential for automating analyses; and reduced consumption of solvents and other materials.     

A convenient method of anion exchange in quaternary salts

A convenient and efficient method for the preparation of anion exchanged quaternary salts has been developed. The method involves treatment of quaternary halides with methanolic solutions of suitable protic acids. The process is effective for aromatic and aliphatic quaternary halides with no loss of alkyl group integrity in the quaternary salt.     

Arsenic speciation by gradient anion exchange narrow bore ion chromatography and high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection

Based on gradient anion exchange chromatography (AEC), a new strategy in As-speciation was evaluated. A narrow bore chromatographic system with lower flow rates (≤300 μL) well suitable for the low flow requirements of higher efficiency nebulizers was splitless coupled to a high resolution sector field ICP MS. The AEC system takes full advantage of the detector sensitivity allowing more diluted samples (50–100 times) to be injected, delivering substantially less sample matrix to the column and a lower eluent load to the plasma. The unique plasma compatibility of the NH₄NO₃-eluent salt used in this study enabled high linear salt ramps in gradient applications, highly reproducible retention times (±1%) and detection limits in the low ng/L range. The separation conditions were applied on two different polymeric anion-exchangers: a low capacity, weakly hydrophobic material (AS11, Dionex) and a more frequently used higher capacity, higher hydrophobic material (AS7, Dionex). On both columns, As-species (As(III/V), MMA, DMA, AsB) and Cl⁻ were separated in less than nine minutes and co-elution was circumvented by adapting the separation pH to the optimal column selectivity. The key-advantage of the NH₄NO₃-eluent is that it can adopt any separation pH without compromising the eluent strength which is not possible with all other eluents used so far. The influences of chloride and methanol were investigated and found not to affect the chromatographic performance. Column deposits caused strong reversible As(v) adsorption which reduced As(v) to As(III). A corresponding phosphate excess in the injected sample eliminated the adsorption and prevented artefacts in As(v)/As(III) ratios. The method applied to ground water samples provided robust separations and is compatible with any sample preservation procedure.     

Online anion exchange column preconcentration and high performance liquid chromatographic separation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection for mercury speciation analysis

A hyphenated method for mercury speciation analysis by the coupling of high performance liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with the online strong anion exchange column (SAX) preconcentration was developed. The Hg analytes (Hg⁺, MeHg, EtHg and Hg²⁺) were absorbed on the SAX column preconditioned with sodium 3-mercapto-1-propanesulfonate, and then rapidly eluted (less than 16 s) by 5 μL 3% (v/v) 2-mercaptoethanol. The enrichment factors of 1025 for Hg⁺, 1084 for MeHg, 1108 for EtHg and 1046 for Hg²⁺ were obtained using 6 mL sample in a 1.5-min enrichment procedure. Rapid separation of the four mercurial compounds was achieved within 5 min on a 50-mm C₁₈ column using 0.5% (v/v) 2-mercaptoethanol as the mobile phase. The detection limits for Hg⁺, MeHg, EtHg and Hg²⁺ were 0.015, 0.010, 0.009 and 0.016 ng L⁻¹, each, and the relative standard deviations of peak height and peak area (5 ng L⁻¹ for each Hg species) were all below 5%. Mercury speciation in three freshwater, two drinking water and two seawater samples were then analyzed by the proposed method. MeHg and Hg²⁺ concentrations down to 0.14 and 0.56 ng L⁻¹ were detected in the drinking waters.     

Hydride-trapping techniques for the speciation of arsenic

The determination of arsenic species by the trapping of volatile hydrides prior to atomization in the light path of an atomic absorption spectrometer is described and its operation in the measurement of arsenic species in the marine environment are discussed. Examples are drawn from the analysis of Tamar estuary water and sediment interstitial (pore) waters and from studies of the temporal variation of dimethylarsenic in coastal waters. Improvements in both the design and operation of the technique have resulted in enhanced performance. Baseline resolution of inorganic arsenic, monomethylarsenic and dimethylarsenic is now possible and trimethylarsine is resolved. Ultraviolet photolysis of arsenobetaine and arsenocholine gives partial conversion to trimethylarsine oxide. This can be employed in the qualitative appraisal of the presence of trimethylarsenic species. Current detection limits (3 sigma) for inorganic, mono- and di-methylarsenic lie in the range 19 to 61 pg absolute, giving 19–61 ng/1 concentration detection limits for 1 ml samples. This can be improved even further by using larger sample volumes. The properties of the analysis system when presented with various arsenic species are described. A ca. 10% loss of arsenite occurs in samples stored at —20 °C and immediate freezing of samples in liquid nitrogen is recommended.     

Capillary electrophoresis for the speciation of arsenic

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with on-line UV-detection was used for the determination of arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, arsenobetaine and arsenocholine. The method is simple and rapid (<10 min) and allows the determination of six different arsenic species without sample pretreatment. Several instrumental parameters were studied to obtain the best performance (pH of buffer, injection mode, injection time, applied voltage). To determine the arsenic compounds, the instrument was used with a negative potential applied to the injection side of the capillary so that the anions can migrate towards the anode because of their own mobility and charge. The capillary wall was coated with an electro-osmotic flow modifier which reversed the electro-osmotic flow and thus increased also the overall migration of the anions towards the anode. The influence of high concentrations of matrix components such as NaCl, KNO₃ and NaNO₃, as well as the presence of acids such as HNO₃ and HCl was studied. CZE was used for the determination of the oxidation state of arsenic in percolate waters and in the leachate of solidified arsenic containing waste. The lowest detectable concentration was about 100 g/l. A comparison with the results obtained with hydride generation coupled to ICP-MS was made.     

Development of off-line layer chromatographic and total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometric methods for arsenic speciation

Rapid and low cost off-line thin layer chromatography–total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and overpressured thin layer chromatography–total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry methods have been developed for separation of 25 ng of each As(III), As(V), monomethyl arsonic acid and dimethylarsinic acid applying a PEI cellulose stationary phase on plastic sheets and a mixture of acetone/acetic acid/water = 2:1:1 (v/v/v) as eluent system. The type of eluent systems, the amounts (25–1000 ng) of As species applied to PEI cellulose plates, injection volume, development distance, and flow rate (in case of overpressured thin layer chromatography) were taken into consideration for the development of the chromatographic separation. Moreover, a microdigestion method employing nitric acid for the As spots containing PEI cellulose scratched from the developed plates divided into segments was developed for the subsequent total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry analysis. The method was applied for analysis of root extracts of cucumber plants grown in As(III) containing modified Hoagland nutrient solution. Both As(III) and As(V) were detected by applying the proposed thin layer chromatography/overpressured thin layer chromatography–total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry methods.     

New preservation method for inorganic arsenic speciation in acid mine drainage samples

A new preservation method has been proposed for the speciation of As(III) and As(V) in acid mine drainage (AMD) samples, characterised by low pH and high metallic content. Samples were taken from a polymetallic sulphides mining area in the province of Huelva (SW Spain), under exploitation until the 1960s for its Cu, Pb and Zn sulphides. The abandoned mine works and the numerous waste rocks heaps produce AMD with high As content, an aqueous pollution source for the nearby streams. Short-term (from few hours to 1 week) preservation of the two inorganic arsenic species was studied, trying different containers (polyethylene, glass), presence or absence of light, temperatures (ambient, refrigerated, frozen), preserving agents and procedures (EDTA, HCl or AcH acids, cation-exchange resin). The speciation results obtained by liquid chromatography-hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HPLC-HG-AFS) indicated a rapid conversion of the samples with most of the preservation procedures reported in the literature after 3 h after sample collection. A promising method for arsenic preservation has been developed in this work, which maintains the arsenic species distribution in the original samples for a longer time. It consists in the use of opaque glass containers, acidification of the samples with HCl and in situ cleanup with cationic exchange resin, which allowed to preserve the samples for As speciation for at least 48 h.     

Utilization of anion exchange resin Spectra/Gel for separation of arsenic from water

Arsenic in drinking water is one of the most challenging health hazards facing mankind today. Arsenic is a naturally occurring carcinogen and creates epidemiological problems through chronic ingestion from drinking water. Arsenic is present in water primarily as As(III) or As(V). Removal of both As(III) and As(V) from water by adsorption on strong base anion-chloride has been studied. Arsenic concentration was measured by Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma (ICP) analysis. The resin was regenerated and the adsorbed arsenic fractions were eluted by using 2 M NaCl. The effect of different parameters that influence adsorption process, such as relative arsenic and resin concentrations, retention time, and pH, were investigated. Results obtained revealed that As(III) was poorly adsorbed, whereas As(V) was successfully retained on the resin. The adsorption process was optimized by using 1 g resin for 16 ppm As(V) at pH 9 for 30 min. The removal efficiency of As(V) was 99.2%.     

乳胶附聚型阴离子交换固定相的制备及表征

以烯丙基缩水甘油醚（AGE）为乳胶聚合单体,制备了一种乳胶附聚型阴离子交换固定相。通过无皂化乳液聚合法,以AGE和苯乙烯（ST）为共聚单体制备AGE-ST共聚乳胶。将该乳胶季铵化后附聚在磺化的聚苯乙烯-二乙烯苯（PS-DVB）微球表面,制备一种乳胶附聚型阴离子交换色谱固定相。通过扫描电镜（SEM）、傅里叶红外光谱（FT-IR）和元素分析（EA）等对该乳胶附聚型阴离子交换色谱固定相的理化性质进行表征,结果显示季铵化的AGE-ST共聚乳胶成功附聚在磺化的PS-DVB微球表面,并通过分离常规阴离子和有机酸对制得的阴离子交换剂的色谱性能进行评价。AGE以其良好的pH耐受性和活泼的反应活性为离子交换色谱固定相的制备提供一个新的选择。     

Modification of the anion exchange chromatographic method for separation of creatine kinase isoenzymes. its use for measurement of an abnormal creatine kinase

Summary Serial blood samples from dogs with pacing induced atrial tachycardia and from patients after different catheterization procedure showed consistently the presence of a new subband creatine kinase (CK) located between MM and MB. This fraction was called MX. An electrophoretic procedure on cellulose acetate with fluorometric scanning has ruled out the possibility of this MX fraction being either an artefact or adenyl kinase. Chromatography by continuous buffer gradient elution ion-exchange method confirmed this finding. The original method led to the finding of this MX and MB fractions in the same eluate. This method has been modified: Sample layered on sephadex were eluted with 100 and 165 mmol/liter NaCl for separation and subsequent quantification of MM and MX, while 200 mmol/liter NaCl separated the MB fraction if present. Good recoveries (88–106%) of total CK activity from the column were achieved.

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Zusammenfassung Serienweise entnommene Blutproben von Hunden, bei denen mittels eines Schrittmachers eine Vorhoftachykardie induziert wurde, und von Patienten nach verschiedenen Katheterisierungsverfahren wiesen regelmäßig eine neue Kreatinkinase-Bande auf, die zwischen MM und MB lag. Diese Fraktion wurde als MX bezeichnet.Die elektrophoretische Trennung auf Celluloseacetatfolie mit anschließender fluorimetrischer Auswertung schloß die Möglichkeit aus, daß diese MX-Fraktion ein Artefakt oder Adenylkinase war. Dieses Ergebnis wurde auch durch Ionenaustauschchromatographie unter Verwendung eines kontinuierlichen Puffergradienten bestätigt.Die ursprüngliche Methode trennte die MX- und MB-Fraktion nicht voneinander und wurde daher folgendermaßen abgeändert: Die auf Sephadex aufgetragenen Proben wurden mit 100 und 165 mMol NaCl/l eluiert, um MM und MX zu trennen und anschließend quantitativ zu bestimmen, während 200 mMol NaCl/l die eventuell vorhandene MB-Fraktion abtrennte. Mit dieser Methode wurden gute Wiederauffindungsraten (88–106%) der gesamten Kreatinkinaseaktivität von der Säule erzielt.

     

A simple method using on-line continuous leaching and ion exchange chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the speciation analysis of bio-accessible arsenic in rice

A simple method for the speciation analysis of bio-accessible arsenic (As) in rice was developed using a continuous on-line leaching method to release the bio-accessible fraction. The continuous on-line leaching method has several advantages over commonly used batch methods including quicker and easier sample preparation, reduced risk of contamination and access to real time leaching data. The bio-accessibility of As in the samples was monitored using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results from a certified reference material as well as cooked and uncooked white rice showed that the majority of As was leached by saliva. Results obtained using the continuous on-line leaching method were comparable to those obtained using a batch method. Speciation analysis of the saliva leachate was performed using ion exchange chromatography coupled to ICP-MS. The four most toxic forms of As (As(III), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and As(V)) were clearly separated within 5 min in a single chromatographic run. Over 92% of bio-accessible As in the certified reference material and uncooked white rice sample was in the form of DMA and As(V), whereas it was present as DMA and As(III) in the cooked white rice.     

Identification of arsenic species in sheep‐wool extracts by different chromatographic methods

Sheep on the island of North Ronaldsay (Orkney, UK) feed mostly on seaweed, which contains high concentrations of dimethylated arsenoribosides. Wool of these sheep contains dimethylated, monomethylated and inorganic arsenic, in addition to unidentified arsenic species in unbound and complexed form. Chromatographic techniques using different separation mechanisms and detectors enabled us to identify five arsenic species in water extracts of wool. The wool contained 5.2 ± 2.3 µg arsenic per gram wool. About 80% of the arsenic in wool was extracted by boiling the wool with water. The main species is dimethylarsenic, which accounted for about 75 to 85%, monomethylated arsenic at about 5% and the rest is inorganic arsenic. Depending on the separation method and condition, the chromatographic recovery of arsenic species was between 45% for the anion exchange column, 68% for the size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and 82% for the cation exchange column. The SEC revealed the occurrence of two unknown arsenic compounds, of which one was probably a high molecular mass species. Since chromatographic recovery can be improved by either treating the extract with CuCl/HCl (CAT: 90%) or longer storage of the sample (CAT: 105%), in particular for methylated arsenic species, it can be assumed that labile arsenic–protein‐like coordination species occur in the extract, which cannot be speciated with conventional chromatographic methods. It is clear from our study of sheep wool that there can be different kinds of ‘hidden’ arsenic in biological matrices, depending on the extraction, separation and detection methods used. Hidden species can be defined as species that are not recordable by the detection system, not extractable or do not elute from chromatographic columns. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of extraction procedures for the determination of arsenic and other elements in lobster tissue by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A variety of extraction procedures were evaluated for the extraction of arsenic and other analytes from lobster tissue samples using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) detection. Soxhlet, room temperature mixing, sonication, microwave assisted, supercritical carbon dioxide and subcritical water extractions were evaluated for a variety of solvent systems and optimum conditions determined using a partially defatted Lobster Hepatopancreas marine certified reference material, TORT-2 (National Research Council of Canada). The solubility trends and solvents into which the analytes extracted gave an indication as to the polar/non-polar nature of the compounds present. Analytes that prefer water are probably more polar or inorganic, while those preferring methanol solutions are less polar or organic in nature. Arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, molybdenum and selenium were probably all present in TORT-2 in both polar inorganic and non-polar organic forms. While TORT-2 may have contained similar amounts of selenium in both forms, the results suggested that more of the arsenic was present as less polar or more organic compounds, and cobalt existed mainly as more polar or inorganic species. Most of the extraction techniques suggested that, although there may be some less polar organic forms present, more of the cadmium was probably present as polar inorganic compounds. Additionally, most techniques indicated that molybdenum was possibly all less polar or more organic in nature. In general, microwave assisted extraction (MAE) yielded comparable or improved recoveries for all of the analytes monitored and usually required less solvent. Additionally, MAE proved to be the mildest, fastest, least complicated and most reproducible extraction technique evaluated. MAE at 75 degrees C for 2 min exposure time yielded quantitative recovery of arsenic from TORT-2. These conditions were evaluated for lobster tissue samples purchased from a local restaurant. Separate evaluation of the lobster meat and organs resulted in quantitative recoveries of arsenic from both tissue samples. The results indicated that the extraction efficiencies might have some dependence upon the extraction technique, extraction conditions, analyte, solvent, and sample matrix.     

Non-chromatographic speciation of toxic arsenic in fish

A rapid, sensitive and economic method has been developed for the direct determination of toxic species of arsenic present in fish and mussel samples. As(III), As(V), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) were determined by hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry using a series of proportional equations without the need of a chromatographic previous separation. The method is based on the extraction of arsenic species from fish through sonication with HNO₃ 3 mol l⁻¹ and 0.1% (m/v) Triton and washing of the solid phase with 0.1% (m/v) EDTA, followed by direct measurement of the corresponding hydrides in four different experimental conditions. The limit of detection of the method was 0.62 ng g⁻¹ for As(III), 2.1 ng g⁻¹ for As(V), 1.8 ng g⁻¹ for MMA and 5.4 ng g⁻¹ for DMA, in all cases expressed in terms of sample dry weight. The mean relative standard deviation values (R.S.D.) in actual sample analysis were: 6.8% for As(III), 10.3% for As(V), 8.5% for MMA and 7.4% for DMA at concentration levels from 0.08 mg kg⁻¹ As(III) to 1.3 mg kg⁻¹ DMA. Recovery studies provided percentages greater than 93% for all species in spiked samples. The analysis of SRM DORM-2 and CRM 627 certified materials evidenced that the method is suitable for the accurate determination of arsenic species in fish.