Evaluation of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry as an elemental detector for supercritical fluid chromatography

Abstract

Supercritical fluid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry shows high potential for the determination at ultratrace levels of organometallic compounds of environmental interest. In this study the determination of organotin compounds at ultratrace levels is demonstrated. In this work a supercritical fluid chromatography/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SFC/ICPMS) interface was developed. Separation of tetraalkyltin compounds shows detection levels in the subpicogram range (0.034 pg for tetrabutyltin; 0.047 pg for tetraphenyltin). The linear ranges are over 3 orders magnitude (1-1000 pg). The reproducibility of sample injections are better than 5% RSD.