Highly sensitive determination of dialkyl phosphinate acids in environmental samples by ion chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

a b s t r a c tDialkyl phosphinate acids (DPAs) are the hydrolysates of aluminum dialkyl phosphinates (ADPs), one class of emerging phosphorus flame retardants since brominated flame retardants have been gradually phased out in recent years. It has been found that once dissolved in water, ADPs are completely hydrolyzed and exist as DPAs. However, there is no report on the determination of DPAs in environmental water samples. For the first time, we developed a method for the analysis of trace DPAs and ADPs in different environmental samples, including waters, soils and sediments. In this proposed method, MAX cartridges were employed for the purification, and ion chromatography (IC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS) method with large volume injection (200 L) and postcolumn addition of methanol and NH 3 ·H 2 O were employed for the determination of DPAs and ADPs. The matrix effects were <16% for water samples and <25% for soil/sediment samples, which were greatly improved in comparison to the liquid chromatography (LC) tandem MS determination. Determined at three fortified levels of 0.02 g/L, 0.2 g/L and 1.0 g/L, the mean recoveries were from 75.8% to 110.2%, with an acceptable coefficient of variation (3.3-20%, n = 6) for water samples. The limits of the method were 3.5-9.3 ng/L for DPAs in environmental water samples, and 0.06-0.09 g/kg for DPAs and ADPs in soil and sediment samples. For soil and sediment samples, results determined by the present IC-MS method were in good agreement with that determined by LC-MS in our previous study.

Ion-Exchange Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry in Life Science, Environmental, and Medical Research

“…In another study, Slingsby et al developed a method for identification of nine different haloacetic acids in effluent waters with LLOD in the range of 0.1–0.7 ng/mL . Subsequently, Niu et al developed an IC-MS method for identification of dialkyl phosphonate acids (DPAs) and hydrolysates of aluminum dialkyl phosphonates (ADPs) . DPAs are formed from hydrolyzation of phosphorus-based flame-retardant ADPs.…”

“… 76 Subsequently, Niu et al developed an IC-MS method for identification of dialkyl phosphonate acids (DPAs) and hydrolysates of aluminum dialkyl phosphonates (ADPs). 77 DPAs are formed from hydrolyzation of phosphorus-based flame-retardant ADPs. These methods were used for analysis from tap water, river water, effluent, and influent samples with LLODs and LLOQs in the range of 0.001–0.003 ng/mL and 0.003–0.01 ng/mL, respectively ( Table 1 ).…”

Determination of phosphorus in natural waters: A historical review

“…Ion chromatography has also been coupled with ICP-AES for the on-line determination of orthophosphate and glyphosate [140] and phosphite, hypophosphite, pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate [141]. Similarly, mass spectrometry has been coupled with IC for the determination of hypophosphite, phosphite, and phosphate [142] and dialkyl phosphinate acids [143] in water. These hyphenated separation-detection techniques show the greatest potential for selective speciation of the plethora of organic and inorganic P species that may occur in natural waters (and wastewaters).…”

Simultaneous determination of the lipophilicity and dissociation constants of dialkyl phosphinic acids by negligible depletion hollow fiber membrane-protected liquid-phase microextraction

“…As one class of emerging additive halogen-free phosphoruscontaining flame retardants (PFRs), aluminum dialkyl phosphinates (ADPs) have grabbed a growing share of FRs market with global restrict and phase-out of many commonly used brominated FRs such as penta-bromodiphenyl ether (penta-BDE) mixtures and decabromodiphenyl ether (deca-BDE) [1][2][3]. ADPs have been widely used in glass fiber reinforced polyamides and polybutylene terephthalate, thermoplastics and thermosets, electrical and electronic equipment, connectors, switches, and encapsulated electronic components [4][5][6]. With their growing consumption, ADPs will inevitably be discharged into environment during the manufacture, use and disposal process of ADP-containing by-products or finished items [1].…”