Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Mercury in Biological Samples and Interference Correction Methods

It is difficult to directly and accurately determine Hg in biological samples using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) due to polyatomic interferences, such as tungsten oxide, and matrix effects. We established an ICP-MS method for the determination of Hg in biological samples bas...

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Main Authors: Linghuo ZHANG, Na MA, Haijie CHEN, Pengpeng ZHANG, Mengying HU, Jinli XU, Jinfeng BAI
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Science Press, PR China 2025-01-01
Series:Yankuang ceshi
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Online Access:http://www.ykcs.ac.cn/article/doi/10.15898/j.ykcs.202407020145
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author Linghuo ZHANG
Na MA
Haijie CHEN
Pengpeng ZHANG
Mengying HU
Jinli XU
Jinfeng BAI
author_facet Linghuo ZHANG
Na MA
Haijie CHEN
Pengpeng ZHANG
Mengying HU
Jinli XU
Jinfeng BAI
author_sort Linghuo ZHANG
collection DOAJ
description It is difficult to directly and accurately determine Hg in biological samples using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) due to polyatomic interferences, such as tungsten oxide, and matrix effects. We established an ICP-MS method for the determination of Hg in biological samples based on the kinetic energy discrimination (KED) mode combined with mathematical correction and internal standard correction. In this experiment, spectral interferences of Hg in standard (STD) mode and KED mode were investigated. 202Hg was selected as the analyzed isotope in the KED mode, effectively reducing but not completely eliminating the interference. It was found that the interference amount of W with Hg was linearly related to the concentration of W (R2=0.9997). The matrix interference was eliminated with internal standard (Rh concentration of 50μg/L) and sample dilution (dilution of 100 times). The reliability of the method was tested with 9 reference materials, and the results were in agreement with certified values (or reference values). In particular, the accuracy of GBW10028 (Astragalus membranaceus), GBW10025 (spirulina) and GBW10015a (spinach) was significantly improved. The relative standard deviation (n=10) was 0.7% to 7.0%. The method is suitable for the analysis of Hg in biological samples.
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institution DOAJ
issn 0254-5357
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Science Press, PR China
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series Yankuang ceshi
spelling doaj-art-3db0cfd8b2ba46e88ecf6b096d96a9672025-08-20T02:47:10ZengScience Press, PR ChinaYankuang ceshi0254-53572025-01-0144114014810.15898/j.ykcs.202407020145yk202407020145Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Mercury in Biological Samples and Interference Correction MethodsLinghuo ZHANG0Na MA1Haijie CHEN2Pengpeng ZHANG3Mengying HU4Jinli XU5Jinfeng BAI6Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, ChinaInstitute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, ChinaInstitute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, ChinaInstitute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, ChinaInstitute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, ChinaInstitute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, ChinaInstitute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, ChinaIt is difficult to directly and accurately determine Hg in biological samples using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) due to polyatomic interferences, such as tungsten oxide, and matrix effects. We established an ICP-MS method for the determination of Hg in biological samples based on the kinetic energy discrimination (KED) mode combined with mathematical correction and internal standard correction. In this experiment, spectral interferences of Hg in standard (STD) mode and KED mode were investigated. 202Hg was selected as the analyzed isotope in the KED mode, effectively reducing but not completely eliminating the interference. It was found that the interference amount of W with Hg was linearly related to the concentration of W (R2=0.9997). The matrix interference was eliminated with internal standard (Rh concentration of 50μg/L) and sample dilution (dilution of 100 times). The reliability of the method was tested with 9 reference materials, and the results were in agreement with certified values (or reference values). In particular, the accuracy of GBW10028 (Astragalus membranaceus), GBW10025 (spirulina) and GBW10015a (spinach) was significantly improved. The relative standard deviation (n=10) was 0.7% to 7.0%. The method is suitable for the analysis of Hg in biological samples.http://www.ykcs.ac.cn/article/doi/10.15898/j.ykcs.202407020145biological samplemercuryinductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometryinterference correction
spellingShingle Linghuo ZHANG
Na MA
Haijie CHEN
Pengpeng ZHANG
Mengying HU
Jinli XU
Jinfeng BAI
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Mercury in Biological Samples and Interference Correction Methods
Yankuang ceshi
biological sample
mercury
inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
interference correction
title Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Mercury in Biological Samples and Interference Correction Methods
title_full Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Mercury in Biological Samples and Interference Correction Methods
title_fullStr Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Mercury in Biological Samples and Interference Correction Methods
title_full_unstemmed Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Mercury in Biological Samples and Interference Correction Methods
title_short Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Mercury in Biological Samples and Interference Correction Methods
title_sort inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric analysis of mercury in biological samples and interference correction methods
topic biological sample
mercury
inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
interference correction
url http://www.ykcs.ac.cn/article/doi/10.15898/j.ykcs.202407020145
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AT pengpengzhang inductivelycoupledplasmamassspectrometricanalysisofmercuryinbiologicalsamplesandinterferencecorrectionmethods
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