Jr. Encinar et al., Isotope ratio measurements using gas chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the assessment of organolead sources, J ANAL ATOM, 16(5), 2001, pp. 475-480
The measurement of isotope ratios (within individual species), for a range
of organolead compounds, was carried out by coupling a capillary gas chroma
tograph (HP 6890) to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (HP 45
00). Optimum conditions for the separation and detection of the derivatised
lead organometallic compounds were studied focusing on the precise and acc
urate measurement of isotope ratios on each chromatographic peak. Three lea
d isotopes were monitored, 206, 207 and 208 using 66 ms integration time pe
r isotope. Under optimum conditions adequate chromatographic peak profiles
could be measured. Based on peak area ratios, isotope ratios were determine
d for five butylated lead compounds (trimethyllead, dimethyllead, triethyll
ead, diethyllead and inorganic lead) and mixed methyl-ethyl tetraalkyllead
compounds from leaded gasoline. Mass bias was corrected using both ethylate
d and butylated NIST 981 isotopic standard (Common Lead) and a certified en
riched Pb-204 solution. No isotope fractionation effects were observed duri
ng derivatisation of the different organometallic compounds. Applications o
f this methodology include the differentiation between Pb sources of the di
fferent standards used, the measurement of Pb isotope ratios in the organol
ead compounds present in airborne particulate matter of Oviedo to ascertain
their origin and the comparison with isotope ratios in the BCR CRM 605 urb
an dust reference material. Significant differences between lead isotope ra
tios in the different species of organolead compounds and in total lead (af
ter acid digestion of the samples) were observed. These differences can be
used to trace back sources of lead contamination, by resorting to the speci
ation data, in cases where the isotope ratios of total lead in the samples
are inconclusive in identifying Pb contamination sources.