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Determination of low concentrations of iron, arsenic, selenium, cadmium, and other trace elements in natural samples using an octopole collision/reaction cell equipped quadrupole‐inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer
Author(s) -
Dial Angela R.,
Misra Sambuddha,
Landing William M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.7152
Subject(s) - chemistry , polyatomic ion , inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry , analytical chemistry (journal) , mass spectrometry , detection limit , arsenic , inductively coupled plasma , quadrupole mass analyzer , quadrupole , plasma , environmental chemistry , ion , atomic physics , chromatography , nuclear physics , physics , organic chemistry
Rationale Accurate determination of trace metals has many applications in environmental and life sciences, such as constraining the cycling of essential micronutrients in biological production and employing trace metals as tracers for anthropogenic pollution. Analysis of elements such as Fe, As, Se, and Cd is challenged by the formation of polyatomic mass spectrometric interferences, which are overcome in this study. Methods We utilized an Octopole Collision/Reaction Cell (CRC)‐equipped Quadrupole‐Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer for the rapid analysis of small volume samples (~250 μL) in a variety of matrices containing HNO 3 and/or HCl. Efficient elimination of polyatomic interferences was demonstrated by the use of the CRC in Reaction Mode (RM; H 2 gas) and in Collision‐Reaction Mode (CRM; H 2 and He gas), in addition to hot plasma (RF power 1500 W) and cool plasma (600 W) conditions. Results It was found that cool plasma conditions with RM achieved the greatest signal sensitivity while maintaining low detection limits (i.e. 56 Fe in 0.44 M HNO 3 has a sensitivity of 160,000 counts per second (cps)‐per‐1 µg L –1 and a limit of detection (LoD) of 0.86 ng L –1 ). The average external precision was ≤ ~10% for minor (≤10 µg L –1 ) elements measured in a 1:100 dilution of NIST 1643e and for iron in rainwater samples under all instrumental operating conditions. Conclusions An improved method has been demonstrated for the rapid multi‐element analysis of trace metals that are challenged by polyatomic mass spectrometric interferences, with a focus on 56 Fe, 75 As, 78 Se and 111 Cd. This method can contribute to aqueous environmental geochemistry and chemical oceanography, as well as other fields such as forensic chemistry, agriculture, food chemistry, and pharmaceutical sciences. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.