Speciation technique selection

TABLE 2. Techniques used in the speciation of selected peroxo metal derivatives in solution... 

Rapin, F. and Forstner, U. (1983) Sequential leaching techniques for particulate metal speciation the selectivity of various extractants. In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Heavy Metals in the Environment, Vol. 2, Heidelberg, CEP Consultants, Edinburgh, pp. 1074-1077. 

The advantages of controlled-potential techniques include high sensitivity, selectivity towards electroactive species, a wide linear range, portable and low-cost instrumentation, speciation capability, and a wide range of electrodes that allow assays of unusual environments. Several properties of these techniques are summarized in Table 1-1. Extremely low (nanomolar) detection limits can be achieved with very small sample volumes (5-20 pi), thus allowing the determination of analyte amounts of 10 13 to 10 15 mol on a routine basis. Improved selectivity may be achieved via the coupling of controlled-potential schemes with chromatographic or optical procedures. 

HPLC (in both NP and RP modes) is quite suitable for speciation by coupling to FAAS, ETAAS, ICP-MS and MIP-MS [571,572]. Coupling of plasma source mass spectrometry with chromatographic techniques offers selective detection with excellent sensitivity. For HPLC-ICP-MS detection limits are in the sub-ng to pg range [36]. Metal ion determination and speciation by LC have been reviewed [573,574] with particular regard to ion chromatography [575]. 

Plasmas compare favourably with both the chemical combustion flame and the electrothermal atomiser with respect to the efficiency of the excitation of elements. The higher temperatures obtained in the plasma result in increased sensitivity, and a large number of elements can be efficiently determined. Common plasma sources are essentially He MIP, Ar MIP and Ar ICP. Helium has a much higher ionisation potential than argon (24.5 eV vs. 15.8 eV), and thus is a more efficient ionisation source for many nonmetals, thereby resulting in improved sensitivity. Both ICPs and He MIPs are utilised as emission detectors for GC. Plasma-source mass spectrometry offers selective detection with excellent sensitivity. When coupled to chromatographic techniques such as GC, SFC or HPLC, it provides a method for elemental speciation. Plasma-source detection in GC is dominated by GC-MIP-AES... 

ICP-MS is being used more frequently in combination with a front-end separation technique such as GC, as a specific and highly selective detector for a variety of speciation applications. GC-ICP-MS is a powerful... 

Prior to the introduction of ion-selective electrode techniques, in situ monitoring of free copper (II) in seawater was not possible due to the practical limitations of existing techniques (e.g., ligand competition and bacterial reactions). Ex situ analysis of free copper (II) is prone to experimental error, as the removal of seawater from the ocean can lead to speciation of copper (II). Potentially, a copper (II) ion electrode is capable of rapid in situ monitoring of environmental free copper (II). Unfortunately, copper (II) has not been used widely for the analysis of seawater due to chloride interference that is alleged to render the copper nonfunctional in this matrix [288]. 

The general features discussed so far can explain the complexity of these reactions alone. However, thermodynamic and kinetic couplings between the redox steps, the complex equilibria of the metal ion and/or the proton transfer reactions of the substrate(s) lead to further complications and composite concentration dependencies of the reaction rate. The speciation in these systems is determined by the absolute concentrations and the concentration ratios of the reactants as well as by the pH which is often controlled separately using appropriately selected buffers. Perhaps, the most intriguing task is to identify the active form of the catalyst which can be a minor, undetectable species. When the protolytic and complex-formation reactions are relatively fast, they can be handled as rapidly established pre-equilibria (thermodynamic coupling), but in any other case kinetic coupling between the redox reactions and other steps needs to be considered in the interpretation of the kinetics and mechanism of the autoxidation process. This may require the use of comprehensive evaluation techniques. 

The book has been structured into roughly three parts. First (Chap. 1), an overview of analytical methods applied in the study of cultural goods is presented to situate electrochemical methods in their analytical context. The second part contains voltammetric methods devoted to the identification (Chap. 2), speciation (Chap. 3), and quantitation (Chap. 4) of microsample components from works of art and/or cultural and archaeological pieces. The third part of the book presents selected examples of the deterioration of metal artifacts, outlining aspects peculiar to the cultural heritage conservation field (Chap. 5), and describes hisforic and current issues regarding electrochemical techniques used in restoration treatments and preventive conservation (Chap. 6). 

Multi-element trace analysis is an important prerequisite for the quality assurance of foodstuffs with respect to the characterization of non-essential, toxic and essential (nutrient) elements as pollutions or as mineral elements relevant to health. Contamination with heavy metals such as Cd, Pb or Hg has become a serious problem with increasing environmental (artificial) contamination e.g., due to industrial pollution. The increasing use of inorganic mass spectrometric techniques (especially of ICP-MS) in the analysis of foodstuffs for multi-element analysis of trace elements or the detection of selected elements and species at a low concentration level has resulted from advances in very sensitive and quantitative measurements of metals, metalloids and several non-metals, including their speciation. 

Figure 1.12 Species-selective hyphenated techniques for speciation analysis.

Today s reality of on-line coupling LC and ICP-MS can be described by a list of advantages and limitations. It should be stressed that a coupling technique is more sophisticated, more complex, more expensive and sometimes difficult to handle. Compared to a single technique it is a more powerful tool and allows trace and speciation analysis at a so far unreached level of sensitivity and selectivity. 

Spectroscopic techniques have received increased attention for the study of natural organic matter (NOM) over the past decades (Hatcher et al., 2001 Abbt-Braun et al., 2004). Such techniques allow the determination of molecular speciation in many cases without the need for extractions, derivatization, or hydrolysis. Spectroscopy is generally less selective in nature than for example chemical extraction techniques, even of chemically or thermally recalcitrant compounds (Frimmel et al., 2002 Haberstroh et al., 2006), though important restrictions for specific bonds apply for some spectroscopic techniques. Equally important are the potentials to investigate the spatial relationships between NOM and mineral phases, surface properties and alteration, and micro-scale heterogeneity within NOM. With improved capabilities and access to synchrotron facilities, worldwide efforts in applying an entire range of powerful spectroscopic tools have proliferated in all areas of science. 

---