41 research outputs found
Development of methods based on ICP-mass spectrometry for the determination, speciation and isotopic analysis of metals and oxy-anions in an environmental context
No full textSince its introduction in 1980, ICP-MS evolved from a lab-built instrument to a family of commercially available analytical techniques, ranging from single-collector quadrupole mass filter units (ICP-QMS) to single-collector and multi-collector sector-field based ICP-MS instruments with high mass resolution capabilities. The versatility of ICP-MS units as (i) environmental regulatory monitoring tool for the determination of major and trace elements, (ii) elemental-specific detector in the context of hyphenation with different separation techniques and (iii) mass spectrometer for the determination of isotope ratios is endorsed in this dissertation.
As an introduction, the synchronicity in the emergence of (Flemish) environmental legislation on the one hand and that of ICP-MS in environmental analysis since 1980 on the other hand is discussed.
Subsequently, ranges of background concentrations of heavy metals are summarised for all environmental compartments in Flanders based on European Standard ICP-MS methods and on a selection of non-polluted background locations (derived from regulatory monitoring studies).
Thereafter, the scientific papers covering the development of methods based on ICP-MS for the determination, speciation and isotopic analysis of metals and oxy-anions in an environmental context are presented (see timeline) with emphasis on the connecting thread of the PhD dissertation, i.e., the relation between the ICP-MS measurement, the environmental issue and the regulatory context
Analytische kwaliteitscontrole op de heffingsparameters : verslag TWO-project Universiteit Gent - VMM
No full textCharacterization of gold nanorods conjugated with synthetic glycopolymers using an analytical approach based on spICP-SFMS and EAF4-MALS
No full textA new comprehensive analytical approach based on single-particle inductively coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometry (spICP-SFMS) and electrical asymmetric-flow field-flow-fractionation combined with multi-angle light scattering detection (EAF4-MALS) has been examined for the characterization of galactosamine-terminated poly(N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide)-coated gold nanorods (GNRs) in two different degrees of polymerization (DP) by tuning the feed ratio (short: DP 35; long: DP 60). spICP-SFMS provided information on the particle number concentration, size and size distribution of the GNRs, and was found to be useful as an orthogonal method for fast characterization of GNRs. Glycoconjugated GNRs were separated and characterized via EAF4-MALS in terms of their size and charge and compared to the bare GNRs. In contrast to spICP-SFMS, EAF4-MALS was also able of providing an estimate of the thickness of the glycopolymer coating on the GNRs surface
Validatie van beproevingsmethoden : theoretische achtergrond en toepassing op de bepaling van cadmium met AAS-GF
No full textDetermination of bromate in drinking waters using low pressure liquid chromatography/ICP-MS
No full textThis paper describes a user-friendly method for bromate determination that can be implemented easily on any inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer present in drinking water laboratories. The method uses low pressure liquid chromatography coupled to an ICP-quadrupole mass spectrometry instrument (ICP-QMS) or an ICP-sector field mass spectrometry instrument (ICP-SFMS) and is compared to that relying on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to an ICP-QMS instrument. The low pressure LC/ICP-MS method uses a low-pressure delivery six-port valve and a 5 cm anion exchange column, which allows a fully resolved separation of bromate in 13 min and achieves a limit of quantification of 0.2 mu g bromate L-1. The low pressure LC system is small and easy to install and its operation is fully integrated within the ICP-MS software. The method allows fit-for-purpose assessment of bromate, potentially present as a Br-containing disinfection by-product in drinking water, and meets all performance characteristic requirements set by the European Council for the monitoring of the quality of water intended for human consumption. A median bromate concentration of 0.5 mu g L-1 was obtained for 80 tap water samples collected during regulatory monitoring campaigns from 2009 until 2012 and covering different water supply areas in the Flemish region of Belgium
Recent developments in mass spectrometry for the characterization of micro- and nanoscale plastic debris in the environment
No full textDevelopment of analytical methods for the characterization (particle size determination, identification, and quantification) of the micro- and nanoscale plastic debris in the environment is a quickly emerging field and has gained considerable attention, not only within the scientific community, but also on the part of policy makers and the general public. In this Trends paper, the importance of developing and further improving analytical methodologies for the detection and characterization of sub-20-mu m-range microplastics and especially nanoplastics is highlighted. A short overview of analytical methodologies showing considerable promise for the detection and characterization of such micro- and nanoscale plastic debris is provided, with emphasis on recent developments in mass spectrometry (MS)-based analytical methods. Novel hyphenated techniques combining the strengths of different analytical methods, such as field flow fractionation and MS-based detection, may be a way to adequately address the smallest fractions in plastic debris analysis, making such approaches worthwhile to be further explored
Total Uncertainty Budget as Method Evaluation for the Determination of Tracer (111Cd) Cadmium and Indigenous Cadmium in Soil Column Effluents with ICP-MS.
No full textAbstract not availableJRC.D - Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (Geel
Detection of microplastics using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) operated in single-event mode
No full textThe occurrence of microplastics in many, if not all environmental compartments is a matter of increasing concern and deserves proper attention. However, there is still a lack of analytical tools for straightforward monitoring of these tiny plastic particles at environmentally relevant levels in water. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) operated in single-particle mode (SP-ICPMS) was demonstrated to be a powerful technique for the characterization of metallic nanoparticles, but to the best of the authors' knowledge, SP-ICP-MS has not yet been evaluated for the purpose of detection of microplastics and their quantitative determination (particle number density). In this work, spherical polystyrene microspheres of 1 and 2.5 mu m - to mimic microplastics coming from plastic waste - have been detected using ICP-MS. The approach developed relies on the ultra-fast monitoring of transient signals (with a dwell time of 100 mu s) when using a quadrupole-based ICP-MS unit in the so-called single-event mode and registering the signal spikes produced by individual microparticles by monitoring the signal intensity at amass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of 13(C-13(+)). The accuracy of the number-based concentration results (particle number densities) has been assessed by comparing the number of events detected when monitoring C-13(+) to those detected when monitoring Ho-165(+) for 2.5 mm lanthanide-doped polystyrene beads. Additionally, the results obtained for both polystyrene microspheres in terms of size (most frequently occurring intensity of the signal distribution) compare well with the size as determined using electron microscopy. ICP-MS operated in single-event mode thus allows information on both the size distribution and mass concentration of microplastics to be obtained. As this approach makes use of instrumentation already available in many routine labs analyzing environmental samples, it can enable these labs to analyze microplastics by using their instrument in single-event mode
Improving the management of nitrate pollution in water by the use of isotope monitoring: the δ15N, δ18O and δ11B triptich
No full textIn spite of increasing efforts to reduce nitrogen inputs into ground water from intensive agriculture, nitrate (NO3) remains one of the major pollutants of drinking-water resources worldwide, with NO3 levels approaching the defined limit of 50mgl1 in an increasing number of water bodies. Determining the source(s) of contamination in water is an important first step for improving its quality by emission control. The Life ISONITRATE project aimed at showing the benefit of a multi-isotope approach (15N and 18O of NO3, and 11B), in addition to conventional hydrogeological analysis, to track the origin of NO3 contamination in water. Based on land use and local knowledge, four distinct cases were studied: (1) natural soil NO3, (2) natural denitrification, (3) single source of NO3 pollution and (4) multiple sources of NO3 pollution. Our results show the added value of combining isotope information, compared to knowledge based on local authorities' experience, land use and the classical' chemical approach, by efficiently identifying the number and type of NO3 source(s) for each watershed studied
