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Working methods paper: Micro‐scale preparation and characterization of isotopically enriched monomethylmercury
Author(s) -
Rodríguez MartínDoimeadios R. C.,
Stoichev T.,
Krupp E.,
Amouroux D.,
Holeman M.,
Donard O. F. X.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
applied organometallic chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1099-0739
pISSN - 0268-2605
DOI - 10.1002/aoc.350
Subject(s) - chemistry , isotope dilution , derivatization , mercury (programming language) , chromatography , mass spectrometry , inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry , sample preparation , gas chromatography , isotope , physics , quantum mechanics , computer science , programming language
Abstract A synthesis method for the micro‐scale laboratory preparation of isotopically enriched monomethylmercury (MMHg) has been successfully established. This compound is an important standard for species‐specific isotope dilution analysis. The isotopically enriched MMHg has been synthesized from commercially available mercury oxide ( 201 HgO) using methylcobalamin co‐enzyme as methylating agent. The time required is less than 2 h and the final yield is about 90%. The proposed method is faster than those previously reported in the literature. It allows work on a micro scale to control the use of expensive enriched isotope standard. It also allows control of unintentional formation of dimethylmercury. The enriched mercury‐containing reaction products were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography coupled to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer after derivatization with sodium tetraethylborate. The isotopic composition, concentration, purity and stability of the synthesized, enriched MMHg have been investigated in order to establish standard protocols for MMHg isotope dilution analysis or isotope labeling incubation experiments. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.