Atomic Spectrometry Update: review of advances in elemental speciation

Abstract

This is the ninth Atomic Spectrometry Update (ASU) to focus on advances in elemental speciation and covers a period of approximately 12 months from December 2015. This ASU review deals with all aspects of the analytical atomic spectrometry speciation methods developed for: the determination of oxidation states; organometallic compounds; coordination compounds; metal and heteroatom-containing biomolecules, including metalloproteins, proteins, peptides and amino acids; and the use of metal-tagging to facilitate detection via atomic spectrometry. The review does not cover fractionation, which is sometimes termed operationally defined speciation. As with all ASU reviews the focus of the research reviewed includes those methods that incorporate atomic spectrometry as the measurement technique. However, because speciation analysis is inherently focused on the relationship between the metal(loid) atom and the organic moiety it is bound to, or incorporated within, atomic spectrometry alone cannot be the sole analytical approach of interest. For this reason molecular detection techniques are also included where they have provided a complementary approach to speciation analysis. As in previous years, As and Se speciation continues to dominate the current literature, with reports of the speciation of Cr and Hg also increasing, and there are an ever rising number of publications concerning the analysis of 'biomolecules'. Whilst most of this work is still the preserve of the research field some methods are now approaching the robustness and rapidity for use in the clinical setting.

Atomic Spectrometry Update: review of advances in elemental speciation

“…This latest update adds to that from last year 1 and complements the five other annual Atomic Spectrometry Updates 2,3,4,5,6 . The interest highlighted in the 2018 elemental speciation ASU on the measurement of metal species in biological systems has continued with the publication of a book entitled 'Metallomics: The Science of Biometals,' volume 1055 in the series Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 7 .…”

Speciation Analysis of Trace Arsenic, Mercury, Selenium and Antimony in Environmental and Biological Samples Based on Hyphenated Techniques

“…Atomic spectrometry are subdivided into AFS, AAS, and AES (or OES), among which AFS is the most often used method, and represents a suitable alternative to the other atomic spectrometric and mass spectrometric techniques [151]. The direct coupling between HPLC and detectors will probably suffer from the interferences from the sample matrices.…”

Introducing Frontal Chromatography–Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry as a Fast Method for Speciation Analysis: The Case of Inorganic Arsenic

“…Analytical speciation methods for the determination of traces of elements in different chemical forms have become increasingly important in the most recent decades. This trend is ascribed to the increasing consciousness about the evidence that the total concentration of elements cannot provide complete information about the mobility and the impact of elements on environmental and biological systems. , From the analytical chemists’ point of view, this implies continuous efforts in the setting up and in the improvement of speciation methods which represent a still very active research field, as revealed by some recent reviews appeared in the literature. − …”

“…Even if direct methods, including spectrophotometric or voltammetric techniques, were developed for the speciation of several elements, the methods of choice for routine in-laboratory determination are commonly based on the hyphenation of separation techniques, such as ion chromatography (IC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), with sensitive detection systems, such as atomic fluorescence spectrometry-hydride generation (AFS-HG), atomic absorption spectrometry-hydride generation (AAS-HG), and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). − , …”

“…3−5 Even if direct methods, including spectrophotometric or voltammetric techniques, were developed for the speciation of several elements, 6 the methods of choice for routine inlaboratory determination are commonly based on the hyphenation of separation techniques, such as ion chromatography (IC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), with sensitive detection systems, such as atomic fluorescence spectrometry-hydride generation (AFS-HG), atomic absorption spectrometry-hydride generation (AAS-HG), and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). [3][4][5]7 Since a large number of samples are usually analyzed with these speciation methods (e.g., samples coming from environmental monitoring campaigns, kinetic studies of abatement processes, and so on), the development of novel analytical protocols is favorable if (i) an increase of the analysis throughput is gained and (ii) a simplification of the required apparatus is delivered.…”