Fast determination of arsenosugars in algal extracts by narrow bore high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
The potential of narrow bore high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with detection by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for fast determination of arsenosugars in algal extracts was explored. The retention behavior of four naturally occurring dimethylarsinoylribosides on an anion-exchange microbore column was investigated, with the mobile phase flow rate ranging from 60 to 200μLmin(-1). A low sample consumption system consisting of a micronebulizer and a low inner volume cyclonic spray chamber was used as the interface between the micro-column and the ICP mass spectrometer. Both the high efficiency nebulizer, HEN, and the PFA micronebulizer were tested, with the former providing 20-50% greater sensitivity than PFA (depending on the liquid flow rate), but comparable limits of detection and slightly lower chromatographic resolution. With the setup employed and under the optimal conditions, a satisfactory separation of the arsenosugars was achieved in less than 5min. The instrumental limit of detection was 0.20μgAsL(-1) and the precision was better than 3% (RSD%, n=5). The accuracy of the determination was verified by the analysis of a reference algal extract, obtaining values in good agreement with the reference ones.
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, University of Alicante, P.O. Box 99, 03080 Alicante, Spain.
José Luis
JL
Todolí
Marco
M
Grotti
D001149:Arsenates / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D009005:Monosaccharides / Q000032:analysis*; D000459:Phaeophyceae / Q000737:chemistry*
D001149:Arsenates; D009005:Monosaccharides; C449161:arsenosugar