Off-line preconcentration and inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry simultaneous determination of Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn mass fractions in seawater: Procedure validation

• Published in: Spectrochimica acta. Part B: Atomic spectroscopy 2019-03, Vol.153, p.19-27
• Main Authors: Vassileva, Emilia, Wysocka, Irena, Orani, Anna Maria, Quétel, Christophe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air pollution; Analytical methods; Anthropogenic factors; Cadmium; Chemical analysis; Cobalt; Contaminants; Copper; Detection; Ecological monitoring; Emissions control; Inductively coupled plasma; Lead; Linearity; Manganese; Marine chemistry; Marine ecosystems; Marine pollution; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Mathematical analysis; Measurement; Nickel; Organic chemistry; Pollution monitoring; Procedure validation; Scientific imaging; seaFAST-pico™ system; Seawater; Sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; Selectivity; Spectroscopy; Trace elements; Uncertainty; Water analysis; Zinc
• ISSN: 0584-8547; 1873-3565
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sab.2019.01.001

Despite the ongoing reduction of emissions of contaminants into the environment, the ocean still represents the most anthropogenically impacted ecosystem worldwide. Sound strategies for marine chemical monitoring call for measurement systems capable of producing comparable analytical results with demonstrated quality. An analytical procedure for simultaneous measurements of the Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn mass fractions in open ocean waters was validated. Procedure validation, including systematic combined uncertainty estimations on measurement results, and the traceability of data are described and explained. Off-line analytes pre-concentration and matrix separation was performed with the commercially available automated seaFAST-pico™ system, followed by inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS) mass fractions determination. The validation approach applied in the present study is in line with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 standard and Eurachem guidelines. Selectivity, working range, linearity, recovery (from 93% to 100%, obtained using the NASS-6 CRM from NRC, Canada), repeatability (1.5–3%), intermediate precision (2–%), limits of detection (0.00006–0.004 μg kg−1) were systematically assessed. The relative expanded uncertainties obtained were at range from 7.0% to 14.0% (k = 2). Excellent results were obtained when applying this procedure to the NASS-7 CRM from NRC, Canada. The potential of this analytical procedure was also tested on open seawater samples from different regions of the world. The validated procedure was applied for the characterisation of the ERM®-CA403 candidate certified reference material and obtained results submitted as the IAEA contribution to this certification. [Display omitted] •Seven trace elements were quantitatively determined by seaFAST-pico™ and ICP-SFMS.•The single pre-concentration step effectively removed matrix of the seawater sample.•The procedure was fully validated according to the international guidelines.•Validated procedure was applied for the characterisation of the ERM®-CA403 seawater.•The procedure can be used for trace elements analysis in open ocean waters.