Rapid Determination of Dissolved Phosphorus in Environmental Waters Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Tandem Mass Spectrometry

In this study, a fast, accurate, and interference-free method for the determination of dissolved P in environmental waters based on inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) was developed. This ICP-MS/MS was operated in the MS/MS mode to provide an interference-free measurement. The developed method exhibited excellent linearity (R2 = 0.9999) over a concentration range of 0.5–500 μg L−1, with a limit of detection of 8.1 ng L−1 in 5% nitric acid solutions. The recoveries (90%–105% in water samples) and the concentrations determined by this method were in good agreement with those determined using the recommended colorimetric method. Comparing with the colorimetric method, the proposed method for determination of dissolved P exhibited great advantages such as shorter experiment time, lower limit of detection and higher sample throughput.Graphical AbstractIn the present work, by optimizing the instrumental conditions, a fast, accurate, and interference-free approach for the determination of trace dissolved P in surface waters was developed using inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry.
Source: Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research