Speciation by HPLC-ICP-MS

• Chromatography: Typically, a form of liquid chromatography, like high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or ion chromatography (IC), is used to separate different species before the sample enters the ICP-MS. This helps isolate the species of interest in a complex sample.

• ICP Ionization: The separated species are then introduced into the ICP, where they are ionized by the high temperature of the plasma.

• Mass Spectrometry: After ionization, the ions are transferred to the mass spectrometer, where their individual m/z ratios are measured. Specific ion signals corresponding to different species of the element can be detected and quantified.

• Detection and Quantification: Data from the ICP-MS can be used to quantify the amount of each species present in the sample. 

Applications of Speciation by ICP-MS:

• Environmental analysis: Identifying and quantifying different species of elements like mercury, arsenic, selenium, or chromium, which can have significantly different toxicities depending on their chemical form.
• Food and beverage industry: Assessing the speciation of metals in food, such as inorganic and organic forms of selenium or arsenic.
• Pharmaceuticals and biomedical studies: Determining the speciation of metals in biological samples, as different metal species can have vastly different biological effects.
• Geochemistry: Studying the distribution and behavior of elements in different geological materials.

• Speciation by ICP-MS offers high sensitivity and precision, making it a valuable tool for studying the chemical behavior of elements in various environmental, biological, and industrial contexts.