TITLE:
Trace-Level Analysis of Hexavalent Chromium in Lake Sediment Samples Using Ion Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry
AUTHORS:
Stefanie Mädler, Fengrong Sun, Cindy Tat, Nadya Sudakova, Peter Drouin, Robert J. Tooley, Eric J. Reiner, Teresa A. Switzer, Richard Dyer, H. M. Skip Kingston, Matt Pamuku, Vasile I. Furdui
KEYWORDS:
Trace-Level Analysis, Ion Chromatography, Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Chromium Speciation, Speciated Isotope Dilution
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.7 No.3,
February
29,
2016
ABSTRACT:
The
analysis of hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), in soil and sediment samples has been
predominantly carried out in materials containing elevated levels. Reliable
analysis of trace-level of Cr(VI) in sediment samples remains challenging.
Cr(VI) analyses with multipoint calibration and speciated isotope dilution
(SID) adapted from U.S. EPA method 6800 were used to measure lower-level Cr(VI)
on an ion chromatograph coupled with a tandem mass spectrometer (IC-MS/MS). Lake
sediment samples were collected from various locations in Northern Ontario and
Cr(VI) was extracted using both alkaline digestion and ethylene
diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) extraction. Certified reference materials were
extracted and analyzed by IC-MS/MS and UV-VIS detection. The SID-MS approach
allowed for the quantification of Cr(VI) in samples with concentration levels
below 0.5 μg.g-1 wet weight.