Copper Speciation for Natural Water by On-site Sample Treatment/Solid-phase Extraction/Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Herein, we determined the contents of Cu(I), Cu(II), and hydrophobic Cu in natural water using on-site sample treatment, solid-phase extraction (SPE), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis. To prevent Cu species changes in the sampling, filtering and preconditioning steps were performed in a closed system using plastic syringes and a disposable membrane filter. Bathocuproin disulfonate (BCS) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) were selected as a Cu(I)-selective complexing agent and a Cu(II) masking agent, respectively, whereas ascorbic acid (AA) was used to reduce Cu(II) to Cu(I). Pre-conditioned samples were passed through a hydrophobic SPE column, and the retained Cu species were eluted with ethanol. Subsequently, the eluate was concentrated, and the residue was re-dissolved in 2 M HNO and subjected to ICP-MS analysis. No artificial changes of Cu(I) and Cu(II) species were observed at any time, with the analytical detection limit of total Cu and the blank value equaling 0.0008 and 0.0025 μg kg, respectively. The developed method was applied to real estuarine, riverine, and seawater samples collected in Tokushima prefecture, Japan.

Solid-Phase Extraction for Environmental Analysis

“…Yabutani et al reported on copper speciation, such as Cu(II), Cu(I) and hydrophobic Cu, in natural water using on-site sample treatment, C18 SPE, and ICP-MS analysis. 13 This developed method was applied to estuarine, riverine, and seawater samples.…”

Trace Element Analysis of Environmental and Biological Samples

“…Yabutani et al reported on "Copper Speciation for Natural Water by On-site Sample Treatment/Solid-phase Extraction/Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry", describing the speciation of Cu(I), Cu(II), and hydrophobic Cu in natural water. 6 Three SPE runs with/ without bathocuproin disulfonate (BCS) and ascorbic acid (AA) were performed to determine the concentration of total Cu and those of individual Cu fractions. The developed method was applied to natural water collected in Tokushima prefecture.…”

Metallomics

“…The biotic functions and toxicities of metals generally depend on their chemical states and species. 18,19 Thus, both the determination and distribution of metals and species are required for understanding detailed mechanisms and functions related to metallomics. Narukawa et al reported on a method for the determination of methylmercury (Me-Hg) and inorganic mercury (i-Hg) using HPLC-ICP-MS, assisted by alkaline extraction using tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide.…”