Use of direct current argon plasma as a detector in gel filtration chromatography of biological fluids

Abstract

A direct-current argon plasma spectrometer has been interfaced with a gel filtration chromatography column to serve as a multi-element-specific detector. This analytical system was used to speciate protein-bound copper, iron, and zinc in serum and intravenous infusion fluids. The operating parameters of the direct current argon plasma including instrumental drift, detection limits, effect of background levels on the calibration graphs. and accuracy were optimized. Calibrations had to be repeated every hour to compensate for instrumental drift. The detection limits of this system (3.2, 3.9 and 9.3 μg l −1 for copper, iron and zinc, respectively) are adequate for the determination of most species containing those elements in the column effluent.