Simultaneous Determination of Volatile Metal (Pb, Hg, Sn, In, Ga) and Nonmetal Species (Se, P, As) in Different Atmospheres by Cryofocusing and Detection by ICPMS

Abstract

A sensitive method for multielemental speciation analysis of volatile metal and metalloid compounds in air has been developed. The analytes are sampled simultaneously in the field by cryofocusing on a small glass wool-packed column at -175 °C. Detection is performed in the laboratory by low-temperature GC hyphenated with ICPMS. Oxygen addition in the carrier gas was used to reduce interferences originating from the presence of volatile carbon-containing species in the samples. Plasma stability during analysis was monitored continuously by internal standardization (Xe). This system provides routine absolute detection limits of 0.06-0.07 pg (as Pb) for tetraalkyllead species (Me(4)Pb, Et(4)Pb), 0.2 pg (as Sn) for tetraalkyltin species (Me(4)Sn, Et(4)Sn), 0.8 pg (as Hg) for mercury species (Hg(0), Me(2)Hg, Et(2)Hg), and 2.5 pg (as Se) for selenium species (Me(2)Se). This instrumentation makes it possible to collect small air sample volumes and has been successfully applied to the determination of volatile metal and metalloid species in the atmosphere in urban and rural locations. Qualitative application in the semiconductor industry is also reported with regard to the detection of arsenic (ASH(3), tert-butylarsine), phosphorus (PH(3), tert-butylphosphine), alkylindium, and gallium species.

Determination of Total Gaseous Lead in the Atmosphere by Honeycomb Denuder/Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

“…1 Gaseous lead in the atmosphere originates from both natural (volcalic gases, etc.) and anthropogenic sources (smelters, fossil fuel combustion, waste incineration, etc.).…”

“…6 The anthropogenic sources are considered to be dominant. 1,7 Despite a sharp decrease in the use of leaded gasoline in recent years, volatile alkyllead species are still used as an antiknocking agent in many countries. 8 Therefore, some volatile leaded compounds, such as tetraalkyllead species (Me4Pb, Et4Pb), lead chloride, and lead bromide are still released from automobile exhaust systems to the atmosphere.…”

“…Donard et al 1 have developed a sensitive method for speciation analysis of volatile lead compounds in air. The analytes are sampled in the field by cryofocusing on a small glasswool-packed column at -175˚C, and detection is performed in the laboratory by low-temperature GC-ICP-MS.…”

“…Many analytical methods, including atomic-absorption spectrometry, 15 anodic-stripping voltammetry, 16 and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, 1 have been applied to the determination of trace lead in environmental samples. Lead is probably the most frequently measured element using electrothermal atomic-absorption spectrometry (ETAAS).…”

Sampling and determination of metal hydrides by solid phase microextraction thermal desorption inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

“…This technique has been used not only for hydride-generated species, 6 b u ta l s of o rt h ed i r e c ts a m p l i n go fg a s e o u sm e t a l species from ambient air in atmospheres suspected of containing high levels of metals. 7,8 As an alternative to the above techniques for sample processing, direct headspace extraction of volatile metal species using solid phase microextraction (SPME) can be utilized. Naturally occurring volatile metal species (such as methylmercury chloride) can be extracted from headspaces without prior derivatization.…”