Multielemental speciation analysis of Cd2+, Pb2+ and (CH3)3Pb+ in herb roots by HPLC/ICP-DRC-MS. Validation and application to real samples analysis
Adam Sajnóg, Elwira Koko, Karolina Paszyńska, Danuta Barałkiewicz
Abstract
The major concept of the research was to develop and validate a sensitive analytical procedure for the determination of Cd2+, Pb2+ and (CH3)3Pb+ in herb roots. The object of the study were roots accumulating significant amounts of Cd and Pb. The advanced high performance liquid chromatography combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry equipped with a dynamic reaction chamber (HPLC/ICP-DRC-MS) was applied. The separation of species was achieved using a column IonPac CS5A, and the composition of the mobile phase: 40 mM EDTA, 20 mM TMAH, 10 mM oxalic acid resulted in a short analysis time – below 2 minutes. The limits of quantification are 0.10, 0.29, 0.30 µg L−1 for Cd2+, Pb2+ and (CH3)3Pb+, respectively. The developed method was applied to the roots of herb roots after extraction with boiling water, imitating the concoction used in traditional medicine. The share of determined species in total content is on average 59% for Cd and 58% for Pb. The content of Cd2+ in the extracts was in the range (3.3–107) µg kg−1, and for Pb2+ (5.1–23) µg kg−1; species (CH3)3Pb+ was not detected.