APPLICATION OF A NOVEL IMINODIACETATE CHELATING MATERIAL TO AUTOMATEDMATRIX SEPARATION FOR INDUCTIVELY-COUPLED PLASMA-MASS SPECTROMETRY

A novel iminodiacetate chelating reagent immobilized onto a controlled pore glass support has been tested as a reagent for trace element mat rix separation, prior to analysis by ICP-MS, A commercial automated sy stem was employed in the study, The reagent has been shown to be effec tive for the analysis of effluent samples at a sampling frequency of 1 0 h(-1), Calibrations from pure and saline solutions showed good linea rity and compared well, showing that retention of the selected analyte s was unaffected by the matrix, In order to remove residual matrix ele ments from the column after sample loading a short buffer mash was fou nd to be necessary. The effectiveness of the matrix separation process was illustrated in terms of the Cu-63:Cu-65 ratio, This is abnormally high if sodium is present in the plasma, owing to formation of the (A rNa+)-Ar-40-Na-23 interference, and is sl;own in this study to remain unaltered for saline samples after matrix separation, Initial capacity and recovery data for copper are also shown for the material.