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Rapid paper spray mass spectrometry characterization of uranium and exemplar molecular species
Author(s) -
Coopersmith Kaitlin,
Cody Robert B.,
Mannion Joseph M.,
Hewitt Joshua T.,
Koby Samuel B.,
Wellons Matthew S.
Publication year - 2019
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.8517
Subject(s) - chemistry , uranyl , uranium , mass spectrometry , chemical ionization , analytical chemistry (journal) , detection limit , thermal ionization mass spectrometry , sample preparation , ionization , nuclear chemistry , environmental chemistry , chromatography , metallurgy , ion , materials science , organic chemistry
Rationale The ability to detect and quantify the presence of specific inorganic elements and complexes is essential for environmental monitoring and nuclear safeguards applications. In this work, paper spray ionization mass spectrometry was used for the rapid chemical and isotopic characterization of trace inorganic species collected on cotton swipe substrates. The direct analysis of cotton swipes using this ambient ionization technique led to fast sample analysis that retained original chemical information of the source material with minimal sample preparation. Methods Mass spectra were collected with an atmospheric pressure ionization, high‐resolution mass spectrometer for solutions containing uranyl acetate, uranyl chloride, uranyl nitrate, and uranyl tri‐ n ‐butylphosphate complexes. Gadolinium nitrate was used as an internal standard for the quantitative analysis of uranium. To demonstrate the ability to characterize inorganic contaminants in the presence of uranium, a multi‐element inorganic standard containing U, Bi, Pb, Cd, Fe, and Zn was deposited onto cotton substrates and directly analyzed without purification. Results All elements doped on the cotton substrate were detected with strong signal‐to‐noise ratios ( ca 1000 for UO 2 + on multi‐element doped swipes) and high integrated intensities (>10 5 counts) from collection periods of approximately 1 min. Limits of detection were determined to be approximately 94 ng for UO 2 + and uranyl acetate through the measurement of ppb level solutions. Conclusions The rapid analysis of uranium and other inorganic‐containing samples while still retaining original chemical information (e.g. uranyl complexation) was demonstrated. Qualitative detection and speciation were achieved in less than 1 min of analysis. For uranium isotopic quantitation, longer accumulations (>15 min) can be sustained to improve the accuracy of minor 235 U isotopic abundance measurements to approximately 1% error.