An automated speciation analyser of organometallic compound content
Résumé
This paper presents the design of an automated measurement device developed for speciation studies of organometallic compounds in samples of a complex and varying composition matrix. The instrument automates three essential steps in a typical speciation analysis procedure: isolation of analytes, their enrichment, and time-resolved introduction into a detector. Analytes are extracted by purging from post-sample dissolution/digestion mixture, in the form of volatile derivatives, with their simultaneous enrichment on a capillary cryotrap. Before introduction into a detector, they are rapidly (ca. 0.5 min.) separated on a multi-capillary gas chromatographic column operating in isothermal mode. The construction of the automated speciation analyser (ASA) makes it practically independent of a kind of the detector used (it was tested with MIP-AED,(1) ICP-MS,(2) and AAS detectors) and gives the freedom of choice of sample preparation procedure. The only requirement to the latter is that analytes should be in a form of volatile compound in an aqueous matrix.