A new HG/LT-GC/ICP-MS multi-element speciation technique for real samples in different matrices

An improved speciation technique is presented for metal(loid)organic compou nds, enabling identification and quantification of species from twelve elem ents: germanium, arsenic, selenium, molybdenum, tin, antimony, tellurium, i odine, tungsten, mercury, lead and bismuth. At this time it is possible to identify 29 species with boiling points between -88.5 degrees C and 250 deg rees C in gaseous, liquid and solid samples in a few minutes. This study sh ows as an example results from measurements of soil samples from municipal waste deposits. The HG/LT-GC/ICP-MS-(hydride generation/low temperature-gas chromatography/inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry) apparatus con tains a home-built gas chromatograph that enables satisfactory separation o f various species with a boiling point difference of greater than or equal to 14 degrees C. The absolute detection limits for the elements mentioned a bove were below 0.7 pg.