A CE-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric (CE-ICP-MS) method for iodine and bromine speciation analysis is described. Samples containing ionic iodine (I(-) and IO(3)(-)) and bromine (Br(-) and BrO(3)(-)) species are subjected to electrophoretic separation before injection into the microconcentric nebulizer (CEI-100). The separation has been achieved in a 50 cm length x 75 microm id fused-silica capillary. The electrophoretic buffer used is 10 mmol/L Tris (pH 8.0), while the applied voltage is set at -8 kV. Detection limits are 1 and 20-50 ng/mL for various I and Br compounds, respectively, based on peak height. The RSD of the peak areas for seven injections of 0.1 microg/mL I(-), IO(3)(-) and 1 microg/mL Br(-), BrO(3)(-) mixture is in the range of 3-5%. This method has been applied to determine various iodine and bromine species in NIST SRM 1573a Tomato Leaves reference material and a salt and seaweed samples obtained locally. A microwave-assisted extraction method is used for the extraction of these compounds. Over 87% of the total iodine and 83% of the total bromine are extracted using a 10% m/v tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solution in a focused microwave field within a period of 10 min. The spike recoveries are in the range of 94-105% for all the determinations. The major species of iodine and bromine in tomato leaves, salt, and seaweed are Br(-), IO(3)(-), I(-), and Br(-), respectively.

An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) was used as an ion chromatographic detector for the speciation of iodine and bromine. Gradient elution using NH4NO3 at pH 10 allowed the chromatographic separation of ionic iodine (I − and IO3 − ) and bromine (Br − and BrO3 − ) species in less than 8 min. Effluents from the ion-exchange column were delivered to the nebulization system of ICP-MS for the determination of I and Br. The potentially interfering 38 Ar 40 ArH + and 40 Ar 40 ArH + at the bromine masses m/z 79 and 81 were significantly reduced in intensity (by approximately two orders of magnitude) by using 0.6 mL min −1 O2 as a reactive cell gas in the dynamic reaction cell (DRC). Moreover, the signal-to-background ratio at iodine mass m/z 127 increased significantly when O2 was used as the reaction gas. The detection limits were in the range of 0.001 -0.002 and 0.03 -0.04 ng mL −1 for various I and Br compounds, respectively, based on the peak height. The relative standard deviation of the peak areas for five injections of a 2 ng mL −1 I − , IO3 − and 20 ng mL −1 Br − , BrO3 − mixture was in the range of 3 -4%. The concentrations of I and Br compounds have been determined in selected water and urine samples. The spike recoveries were in the range of 94 -102% for all of the determinations. This method has also been applied to determine various I and Br compounds in an NIST RM 8435 whole-milk powder reference material and a seaweed sample obtained locally. A microwave-assisted extraction method was used to extract these compounds, which were quantitatively leached with a 10% mass/volume (m/v) tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solution in a focused microwave field within a period of 6 min. The major components of I and Br in milk powder and seaweed were I − and Br − .