Recent advances in on-line coupling of capillary electrophoresis to atomic absorption and fluorescence spectrometry for speciation analysis and studies of metal-biomolecule interactions

Speciation information is vital for the understanding of the toxicity, mobility and bioavailability of elements in environmental or biological samples. Hyphenating high resolving power of separation techniques and element-selective detectors provides powerful tools for studying speciation of trace elements in environmental and biological systems. During the last five years several novel hybrid techniques based on capillary electrophoresis (CE) and atomic spectrometry have been developed for speciation analysis and metal-biomolecule interaction study in our laboratory. These techniques include CE on-line coupled with atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS), chip-CE on-line coupled with AFS, CE on-line coupled with flame heated quartz furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (FHF-AAS), and CE on-line coupled with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The necessity for the development of these techniques, their interface design, and applications in speciation analysis and metal-biomolecule interaction study are reviewed. The advantages and limitations of the developed hybrid techniques are critically discussed, and further development is also prospected.     

基于吸力洗脱的流动注射在线富集与火焰原子吸收联用测定水样中的镉

建立了一种基于吸力洗脱的流动注射(FI)在线富集与火焰原子吸收光谱法(FAAS)联用测定水样中痕量镉的新方法.洗脱过程依靠蠕动泵的吸力而不是推力实现洗脱剂的输送,明显降低了被分析物在洗脱过程中的分散,提高了原子吸收信号峰值(A),同时提高了富集系数(EF).进样流速6.0 mL/min;进样时间60 s,测定20 μg/L Cd2+,EF由传统方法的15提高到38;检出限为0.29 μg/L;测样频率为40个/h;相对标准偏差(RSD,n=11)为2.5%.以01‰ (V/V)的三乙醇胺(TEA)为掩蔽剂,Cd2+在水样中的回收率为93.8%～98.5%.     

碱性体系在线氢化物发生—原子荧光光谱法测定痕量铋

提出了一种碱性体系在线氢化物发生－原子荧光光谱法测定痕量铋的分析方法。设计了在线氢化物发生系统流路及操作程序，研究了碱性体系氢化物发生的各项最佳条件。方法操作简便快速，能有效地消除过渡元素的严重化学干扰。应用于黄铜标样中痕量铋的直接测定，获得满意结果。     

Derivative flame atomic absorption spectrometry and its application in trace analysis

Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) is an accepted and widely used method for the determination of trace elements in a great variety of samples. But its sensitivity doesn’t meet the demands of trace and ultra-trace analysis for some samples. The derivative signal processing technique, with a very high capability for enhancing sensitivity, was developed for FAAS. The signal models of conventional FAAS are described. The equations of derivative signals are established for FAAS, flow injection atomic absorption spectrometry (FI-FAAS) and atom trapping flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AT-FAAS). The principle and performance of the derivative atomic absorption spectrometry are evaluated. The derivative technique based on determination of variation rate of signal intensity with time (dI/dt) is different from the derivative spectrophotometry (DS) based on determination of variation rate of signal intensity with wavelength (dI/dλ). Derivative flame atomic absorption spectrometry (DFAAS) has higher sensitivity, lower detection limits and better accuracy. It has been applied to the direct determination of trace elements without preconcentration. If the derivative technique was combined with several preconcentration techniques, the sensitivity would be enhanced further for ultra-trace analysis with good linearity. The applications of DFAAS are reviewed for trace element analysis in biological, pharmaceutical, environmental and food samples.     

On-line coupling of ion chromatography with ICP–AES and ICP–MS

Ion chromatography (IC) and atomic spectrometry are sometimes rivalling and sometimes ideally cooperating techniques. The cooperating applications of the on-line coupling of IC and inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy or –mass spectrometry span from ultra trace analysis utilizing ion exchange as preconcentration technique via speciation applications taking advantage of the unique element specific detection offered by atomic spectroscopy until classical IC applications with atomic spectrometry as a sensitive and selective detector. Characteristics of this type of hyphenated technique are the simple physical coupling, the unique sensitivity for most elements and the superior selectivity obtainable for specific applications.     

Determination of Trace Lithium in Uranium Compounds by Adsorption on Activated Alumina Using a Micro-column Method

A novel method using a micro-column packed with active alumina as solid phase was proposed for separation of trace lithium from uranium compounds prior to determination. The method is based on a preliminary chromatographic separation of the total amount of uranium. This separation involves passing the solution containing sodium carbonate through active alumina and then eluting the trace lithium retained by the solid phase with a solution of sulfuric acid. Two modes, off-line and on-line micro-column preconcentration, were performed. In conjunction with atomic absorption spectrometry, this on-line preconcentration technique allows a determination of lithium at 10(-9) level. Both off-line and on-line mode operation conditions were investigated in separation and determination of trace lithium by micro-column method (length of column bed, flow rate, etc.). The adsorption capacity of activated alumina was found to be 343 microg g(-1) for lithium. Under the optimal operation condition, the detection limit (DL) of on-line preconcentration corresponding to three times the standard deviation of the blank (S/N = 3) was found to be 1.3 ng mL(-1) and the RSD of this method is 3.32% (n = 5). The on-line calibration graph was linear over the range 20 - 200 ng mL(-1). A good preconcentration factor 820 was achieved by experiment under the on-line mode. The developed method was applied to the analysis of trace lithium in nuclear grade uranium compounds.     

Determination of cadmium in river water samples by flame AAS after on-line preconcentration in mini-column packed with 2-aminothiazole-modified silica gel.

A rapid and sensitive method was developed to determine trace levels of Cd2+ ions in an aqueous medium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, using on-line preconcentration in a mini-column packed with 100 mg of 2-aminothiazol modified silica gel (SiAT). The Cd2+ ions were sorbed at pH 5.0. The preconcentrated Cd2+ ions were directly eluted from the column to the spectrometer's nebulizer-burner system using 100 microL of 2 mol L(-1) hydrochloric acid. A retention efficiency of over 95% was achieved. The enrichment factor (calculated as the ratio of slopes of the calibration graphs) obtained with preconcentrations in a mini-column packed with SiAT (A = -1.3 x 10(-3) + 1.8 x 10(-3)[Cd2+]) and without preconcentrations (A = 4 x 10(-5) + 3.5 x 10(-5)[Cd2+]), was 51 and the detection limit calculated was 0.38 microg L(-1). The preconcentration procedure was applied to determine trace levels of Cd in river water samples. The optimum preconcentration conditions are discussed herein.     

Determination of lanthanum in food and water samples by Zeeman-effect atomic absorption spectrometry using graphite tube lined with tungsten foil.

A sensitive, selective method for the determination of lanthanum in food and water samples by atomic absorption spectrometry using a graphite tube lined with tungsten foil is described. The atomization of lanthanum from the tungsten surface gives better analytical sensitivity, a lower atomization temperature and negligible memory effects. The characteristic mass and detection limit of the method were 8.1 x 10(-9) and 7.85 x 10(-9) g, respectively. The precision (relative standard deviation in the range 5.9-9.9%), accuracy and interferences of the method were also investigated. The method can be used directly for the determination of trace amounts of lanthanum in food and water without pre-dissociation of the matrices. The results obtained by this method are in good agreement with those obtained from inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.     

Separation preconcentration method for platinum and rhodium from environmental samples using a chelating resin

A method of determining trace levels of platinum and rhodium in different samples was investigated. The method involves separation and preconcentration of the platinum and rhodium from the matrix by flow injection (FI) on-line coupled with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) with Zeeman effect background correction. Platinum and rhodium were adsorbed on a microcolumn packed with 1,5-bis(di-2-pyridyl)methylene thiocarbohydrazide immobilized on silica gel (DPTH-gel). The sorbed metals were directly eluted with nitric acid into the graphite furnace and determined by AAS.     

流动注射在线吸附预富集原子光谱联用技术在痕量 (形态)分析中的应用

深入系统地讨论了以编结反应器(KR)为吸附介质的流动注射(FI)在线预富集分离与原子光(质)谱联用技术及其在环境和生物样品中(超)痕量元素(形态)分析中的应用。与常用的FI在线C18微柱预富体系相比,KR体系不需填料作吸附剂、反压低、可用较大样品流速以补偿其富集效率低的缺点,并且使用寿命几乎无限长。KR吸附体系具有经济、简便和易操作等优点,是替代常用的FI在线C18微柱预富集的比较理想的体系。     

Electrochemistry combined on-line with atomic mass spectrometry and related techniques for trace-metal analysis and electrode-reaction studies

Electrochemistry (EC) combined on-line with atomic mass spectrometry (MS) and related techniques (e.g., inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, ICP–AES) affords an avenue for analysis of metals present at ultratrace levels and the effective elimination of matrix effects detrimental to atomic MS and spectrometric techniques. In addition, electrode reactions involving inorganic species can be conveniently studied, and analyte accumulated and released from adsorbates or electroactive thin films can be accurately quantified.This review summarizes recent advances based on EC coupled with atomic MS and related techniques for trace-metal analysis and studies of electrode processes. Particular emphasis is placed on EC combined with ICP–MS (EC–ICP–MS) and electrospray–MS (EC–ES–MS). I describe criteria for selecting the suitable EC flow-cell designs and the MS sample-introduction systems or interfaces. The versatility of this hyphenated technique is well reflected in the different systems studied and the possibility of electrolytic and non-electrolytic accumulation of trace analytes for subsequent sensitive MS detections.     

Determination of nine emerging pesticides at trace level in aqueous samples using fully automated on-line solid phase extraction coupled with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

On-line solid phase extraction (SPE) coupled to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) offers an easy and fast strategy to analyze the organic contaminants in environmental samples with high sensitivity and selectivity. This paper described an in-house designed on-line SPE system and an on-line SPE-LC-MS method for the determination of pesticides at trace levels in water samples. The system was assembled from an eight-position valve, a piston pump, a six-port valve and a C18 SPE column, and significantly reduced analysis time by achieving full automation. Moreover, the use of a large enrichment volume (50?mL) significantly enhanced method sensitivity. Using this on-line SPE system, an on-line SPE-LC-MS method was developed for the determination of nine pesticides at trace levels in lake water and seawater sample. Under optimized conditions, method detection limits (MDLs) were 1.00–10.0?ng?L^?1.     

Trace gold determination by on-line preconcentration with flow injection atomic absorption spectrometry

A reverse-phase extraction column method has been employed as an on-line preconcentration technique for trace gold analysis by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Di(methylheptyl)methyl phosphonate (DMHMP) loaded onto a macroporous resin was used as the immobilized phase. A thiourea-HCl solution was found successful in eluting the gold. The experimental parameters were optimized by Simplex Optimization, with 17 tests needed to obtain optimal conditions. Sensitivities of 5.2 mug/l. and 2.3 mug/l., with sample frequencies of 45/hr and 48/hr, were obtained by using single and dual-columns respectively. The recoveries for mixed composition samples were 93-110%.     

On-line sample processing involving microextraction techniques as a front-end to atomic spectrometric detection for trace metal assays: A review

Within the last decade, liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) and micro-solid phase extraction (μSPE) approaches have emerged as substitutes for conventional sample processing procedures for trace metal assays within the framework of green chemistry. This review surveys the progress of the state of the art in simplification and automation of microextraction approaches by harnessing to the various generations of flow injection (FI) as a front end to atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) or inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry or mass spectrometry (ICP-AES/MS). It highlights the evolution of flow injection analysis and related techniques as vehicles for appropriate sample presentation to the detector and expedient on-line matrix separation and pre-concentration of trace levels of metals in troublesome matrices. Rather than being comprehensive this review is aimed at outlining the pros and cons via representative examples of recent attempts in automating green sample preparation procedures in an FI or sequential injection (SI) mode capitalizing on single-drop microextraction, dispersive liquid-phase microextraction and advanced sorptive materials including carbon and metal oxide nanoparticles, ion imprinted polymers, superparamagnetic nanomaterials and biological/biomass sorbents. Current challenges in the field are identified and the synergetic combination of flow analysis, nanotechnology and metal-tagged biomolecule detection is envisaged.     

Applications of mass spectrometry in the trace element analysis of biological materials

The importance of mass spectrometry for the analysis of biological material is illustrated by reviewing the different mass spectrometric methods applied and describing some typical applications published recently. Though atomic absorption spectrometry is used in the majority of analyses of biological material, most mass spectrometric methods have been used to some extent for trace element determination in biomedical research. The relative importance of the different methods is estimated by reviewing recent research papers. It is striking that especially inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is increasingly being applied, partly because the method can be used on-line after chromatographic separation, in speciation studies. Mass spectrometric methods prove to offer unique possibilities in stable isotope tracer studies and for this purpose also experimentally demanding methods such as thermal ionization mass spectrometry and accelerator mass spectrometry are frequently used.     

流动注射在线富集-FAAS测定合金钢中微量镍

提出了流动注射在线离子交换富集-火焰原子吸收光谱法测定合金钢中微量镍的分析方法.在线离子交换采用双柱正向富集和反向洗脱流路方式,使用80目732强酸型阳离子交换树脂在酸度为0.10mol/L HCl中富集样品中的Ni2+,并用2.0mol/L HCl洗脱.设计了流动注射在线离子交换富集双柱流路的操作程序,优化了各项仪器...     

豫产桔梗的土壤与药材中部分微量元素含量与分析

为了解桔梗中微量元素含量特征,研究土壤中微量元素对桔梗药材道地性的影响,采用原子吸收光谱法、冷原子荧光法、双道原子荧光法对不同产地的桔梗药材及生境土壤中8种微量元素含量进行了测定,所得数据用SPSS 11.0软件进行分析比较。结果表明,不同产地的桔梗微量元素含量有差异;药材与土壤中微量元素之间具有相关性。桔梗对土壤中微量元素是主动与被动相结合的有选择吸收。     

古人类骨骼中微量元素的分析及其与古代食谱的关联

采用等离子体质谱(ICP-Ms)法对三峡地区及长江下游地区出土的古墓中的人体骨骼中的微量元素Zn、Sr、Ba、Ca进行了分析，并与原子吸收光谱(AAS)对照，结果表明：ICP-MS是骨化学微量元素分析很好的方法，它相对FAAS，具有灵敏度高，检出限低，可快速进行多元素检测等优点，对溶液中元素的检出限可达到ng/L数量级，对元素的高含量和低含量都能进行准确测量。本实验以Zn、Sr、Ba、Ca为指示剂，根据其测量结果，还对上述两地区的古人类食谱进行了初步探讨。     

Comparison and evaluation of cloud point extraction and low-temperature directed crystallization as preconcentration tools for the determination of trace elements in environmental samples

A comparative study between cloud point extraction (CPE) and low-temperature directed crystallization (LTDC) is presented. Trace elements (Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni and Fe) were preconcentrated by both methods from model and natural water samples and the results were evaluated with respect to extraction efficiency, accuracy, precision, sample throughput and interferences. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) were used for the final measurements. The results indicate that these extraction and preconcentration procedures ensure the required accuracy and precision for the reliable identification and quantification of trace elements in natural waters. Drawbacks of each method identified can further assist the analyst towards a better application of each method depending on the target species, the detector employed and the application intended (routine analysis, trace analysis, speciation analysis, etc.).     

Trace enrichment and determination of silver by immobilized DDTC microcolumn and flow injection atomic absorption spectrometry

Flow injection (FI) system incorporating a microcolumn of immobilized diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) on surfactant-coated alumina was combined with atomic absorption spectrometry for on-line trace enrichment and determination of silver in different matrices. Silver was deposited on the microcolumn by processing a standard or solution of analyte at pH 3-4 on the column. Injection of 250 μl of ethanol then served to elute the retained species to atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). A sample volume of 20 ml resulted in a pre-concentration factor of 125, and precision at the 20 μg l⁻¹ was 4% (R.S.D.). The procedure was applied to tap water, well water, rain water, sea water, radiology film, and lead concentrate samples. The accuracy was assessed through recovery experiments, independent analysis by furnace-AAS, and analysis of certified reference material.