title: Gas chromatography--inductively coupled plasma--time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the speciation analysis of organolead compounds in environmental water samples.
abstract: The application of inductively coupled plasma--time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the speciation analysis of organolead compounds in environmental waters is described. Construction of the transfer line was achieved by means of a relatively simple and rapid coupling procedure. Derivatization of the ionic lead species was achieved by in-situ propylation with sodium tetrapropylborate; simultaneous extraction of the derivatized compounds in hexane was followed by separation and detection by capillary gas chromatography hyphenated to inductively coupled plasma-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Detection limits for the different organolead species ranged from 10 to 15 fg (as Pb), corresponding to procedural detection limits between 50 and 75 ng L(-1), on the basis of a 50 mL snow sample, extraction with 200 microL hexane, and subsequent injection of 1 microL of the organic extract on to the column. The accuracy of the system was confirmed by additional analysis of the water samples by capillary gas chromatography coupled with microwave-induced plasma-atomic-emission spectrometry and the analysis of a standard reference material CRM 605 (road dust) with a certified content of trimethyllead.
authors.affiliation: University of Antwerp (UIA), Micro and Trace Analysis Centre, Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heisterkamp
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D005602:France; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D012914:Snow; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007854:Lead