Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometric Method Research Articles

Determination of heavy metal complexes with humic substances by HPLC/ICP-MS coupling using on-line isotope dilution technique

An isotope dilution mass spectrometric (IDMS) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of the complexes of 11 heavy metals (Ag, Cd, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Tl, U, W, Zn and Zr) with humic substances (HS) by coupling HPLC with ICP-MS and applying the on-line isotope dilution technique. The HPLC separation was carried out with size exclusion chromatography. This HPLC/ICP-IDMS method was applied to samples from a brown water, ground water, sewage and seepage water as well as for a sample containing isolated fulvic acids. The total contents of heavy metals and of their complexes were analyzed in these samples with detection limits in the range of 5–110 ng/L. The analysis of heavy metal/HS complexes from the different waters resulted in characteristic fingerprints of the distribution pattern of heavy metals in the separated HS fractions. A comparison between the total heavy metal concentrations and their portions bound to humic substances showed distinct differences for the various metals. Simultaneous 12C detection was used for the characterization of HS complexes not identified by UV detection and for the determination of relative DOC concentrations of chromatographic peaks.

Cr(III)/Cr(VI) speciation in aerosol particles by extractive separation and thermal ionization isotope dilution mass spectrometry

An isotope dilution mass spectrometric (IDMS) method, using the formation of positive thermal ions, was developed for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) speciation in aerosol particles. Cr(III) and Cr(VI) spike species, enriched in 53Cr, were applied for the isotope dilution step. After leaching of filter collected aerosol samples by an alkaline solution at pH 13, species separation was carried out by extraction with a liquid anion exchanger in methyl isobutyl ketone. Cr(VI) in the organic phase was re-extracted into an ammoniacal solution and chromium was then isolated from both fractions of species by electrodeposition. Detection limits of 30 pg/m3 for Cr(III) and of 8 pg/m3 for Cr(VI) were achieved in atmospheric aerosols for volumes of air samples of about 120 m3. These low detection limits allowed the determination of chromium species in continental aerosol particles in dependence on different seasons. The Cr(III) /Cr(VI) ratio was always found to be about 0.3 whereas dust from soil erosion, which is probably the primary source of chromium in the atmosphere, showed higher ratios. This indicates that chromium is oxidized in the atmosphere. The accuracy of the method was demonstrated in two interlaboratory comparisons of Cr(VI) determinations in welding dust samples. The IDMS method also contributed to the certification of a corresponding standard reference material organized by the Standard Reference Bureau of the European Union. Chromium speciation, including the determination of elemental chromium Cr(0), was carried out in aerosols of different welding processes for stainless steel. These analyses showed distinct differences in the distribution of chromium species in the welding process and can be used as an exact calibration method for routine methods in this important field of monitoring corresponding working places.

Evaluation of urinary metanephrine and normetanephrine enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) kits by comparison with isotope dilution mass spectrometry

Determination of urinary 3-O-methylated catecholamines (metanephrines) is generally considered a principal test for the clinical chemical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and is currently performed predominantly with chromatographic techniques such as gas-liquid chromatography and HPLC. Enzyme immunoassays based on microtiter plate technology have recently been developed for the quantitative determination of urinary metanephrine (M) and normetanephrine (NM). We compared the results for urinary M and NM determined by these ELISA methods with those obtained by a recently developed isotope dilution mass spectrometric method. From this comparative study we can conclude that the investigated ELISA methods are applicable in the quantification of urinary M and thus can be successfully used to establish the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. These relatively simple methods can be executed in any clinical laboratory and in time may replace the present, more complicated, chromatographic techniques.

Calibration for Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry—Description of an Alternative to the Bracketing Procedure

A calibration method for isotope dilution mass spectrometry is presented that fully accounts for non-linearity of calibration functions, caused by the interference of the analyte on the m/z used for measurement of the internal standard and vice versa. In this way, it is also possible to use incompletely labelled molecules or analogues with a mass increment of only 1 u for isotope dilution, on condition that certain restrictions are respected. In addition, the proposed method is less time consuming than bracketing. The method works with the computer-stored full calibration curve and a single calibration point that is measured daily. The calibration curve is constructed from the experimentally determined mass spectral overlap between the unlabelled analyte and the labelled internal standard at the m/z values chosen for measurement. Measurement results for samples with unknown analyte concentration are calculated on the basis of a linear relationship between their ion abundance ratio and that of the daily single calibration point, but corrected by a factor derived from the theoretical calibration function. All calculations are performed with commonly available spreadsheet software. An application is presented for determining serum uric acid with a candidate gas chromatographic/ isotope dilution mass spectrometric reference method.

Synthesis of 5,6,6-[ 2H 3]finasteride and quantitative determination of finasteride in human plasma at picogram level by an isotope-dilution mass spectrometric method

Finasteride is a potent inhibitor of the enzyme steroid 5α-reductase now approved as a drug for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. We describe an original method for the quantitative determination of finasteride at picogram level in human plasma by isotope-dilution gas chromatography mass spectrometry. 5,6,6-[ 2H 3]Finasteride was synthetized with an high ratio of trideuteration ( finasteride/[ 2 H 3] finasteride = 0.007) allowing its optimal use as internal standard. Plasma samples were purified in a single-step procedure on solid-phase extraction C 18 columns with a recovery ⩾90%. Samples were injected in the GC-MS instrument without any derivatization and the minimum detection level of finasteride was 50 pg with a singal-to-noise ratio of 6:1. The coefficients of variation for the 5 and 10 ng/ml (plasma) concentrations were 5.8% and 4%, respectively. the method has been applied to the determination of the plasma pharmacokinetic of finasteride in five male volunteers treated with a single 5-mg dose of the drug, affording kinetic parameters which are in good agreement with the values previously reported with a different methodology. The present method results accurate, specific, sensible and reliable for a routinely determination of finasteride at picogram levels.

Iodine speciation in size fractionated atmospheric particles by isotope dilution mass spectrometry.

An isotope dilution mass spectrometric method has been developed for the accurate and sensitive determination of iodide and iodate in aerosol particles of the atmosphere. The direct iodine speciation has been possible by the use of species specifically (129)I enriched spike solutions and separation of the isotope diluted species by anion exchange chromatography after water extraction of the filters. Size fractionated collection of aerosol particles by a six stage impactor system shows different distributions of iodide and iodate for particles of different size with specific patterns for anthropogenically influenced continental and unpolluted marine aerosols, respectively. The detection limit for particulate iodide and iodate has been (3-5) pg/m(3) for sampling volumes of 3000 m(3). Oil, used for heating plants, could be identified as one but not the only anthropogenic iodine source.

Isotope dilution mass spectrometry as a candidate definitive method for determining total glycerides and triglycerides in serum

A new isotope dilution mass spectrometric method for total glycerides and triglycerides in human serum is described. Total glycerides are defined as the sum of tri-, di-, and monoglycerides plus free glycerol; triglycerides are defined as the pure triglyceride species. In both determinations, serum samples are supplemented by addition of [13C3]tripalmitin, processed, derivatized, and the abundance ratios of selected ions are determined. Bias is investigated by quantifying the analyte in the same samples under different chromatographic and ionization conditions. The analytes were determined in two human serum pools. The CV for a single measurement ranged from 0.35% to 0.72%, and the relative SEM ranged from 0.10% to 0.34%; there was no significant bias in the measurements. The combination of high precision and absence of significant bias in the results qualify this method for consideration as a Definitive Method as defined by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards.

Determination of heavy metals in TiO2 with isotope dilution mass spectrometry

An isotope dilution mass spectrometric (IDMS) method has been developed for the determination of trace impurities (Fe, Cu, Cr, Ni, Cd, Pb, Tl, and U) in TiO2; this is of special interest for the quality control of this pigment substance. The measurement of the isotope ratios was carried out using a compact thermal ionization quadrupole mass spectrometer by producing positive thermal ions. For the dissolution of the sample, microwave digestion with HF was applied. Different separation techniques (ion exchange chromatography, extraction, electrolytic deposition) were used for the trace/matrix separation and the element specific isolation of the different trace elements to be determined. The detection limits obtained were (in ng/g): Fe=90, Cu=11, Ni=8, Cd=7, Pb=26, Tl=0.6, U=0.2. Because IDMS usually results in accurate analytical results, this method can best be used for calibration of other analytical methods, or for the certification of corresponding standard reference materials.

Comparison of heavy metal analyses in hydrofluoric acid used in microelectronic industry by ICP-MS and thermal ionization isotope dilution mass spectrometry

An isotope dilution mass spectrometric (IDMS) method with the thermal ionization (TI) technique has been developed for the determination of trace impurities of Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd, Tl, Pb, Th, and U in high-purity HF (50% by weight) used in the semiconductor industry. The evaporation step of the HF solution was carried out in an apparatus which did not significantly contribute to contaminations of the heavy metals to be analysed. This apparatus allowed fast evaporation of the HF solution of up to 200 ml/h and therefore also a fast trace heavy metal/matrix separation was carried out. The evaporation step was also used in connection with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) when applying the isotope dilution technique and an external calibration for quantification, respectively. The detection limits for TI-IDMS were (in pg/g): Cr=30, Fe=400, Ni=70, Cu=20, Zn=1100, Ag=70, Cd=10, Tl=1, Pb=16, Th=3, and U=1. With ICP-MS in combination with the evaporation step, detection limits of less than 50 pg/g have been achieved for Cr, Ni, and Zn and of <5 pg/g for the other elements except Fe, which could not be determined in concentrations less than 100 ng/g. On the other hand, the detection limits were much higher when the HF matrix was not removed before measuring by ICP-MS. A comparison of the different ICP-MS methods (isotope dilution technique and external calibration for both HF evaporated samples and those with HF matrix) with the results of TI-IDMS has been carried out. An excellent agreement was achieved between the results of TI-IDMS and the two ICP-MS methods using the HF evaporation step, whereas the ICP-MS techniques without HF evaporation essentially deviated from these results. Fe was the only trace element of all investigated heavy metals which could only be analysed by TI-IDMS in high purity HF in a concentration of about 3 ng/g. Although ICP-MS with isotope dilution and external calibration resulted in comparable analytical data, the ICP-IDMS method has some practical advantages such as time-saving and more reliable results.

Isotope dilution mass spectrometry of microelectronically relevant heavy metal traces in high-purity cobalt

Because cobalt and its silicides are increasingly used in microelectronic devices, an isotope dilution mass spectrometric (IDMS) method has been developed for trace analysis of relevant heavy metals (U, Th, Fe, Zn, Tl, and Cd) in high-purity cobalt. The measurements of the isotope ratios were carried out with a small thermal ionization quadrupole mass spectrometer by producing positive thermal ions in a single- or double-filament ion source. For the trace/matrix separation and the isolation of the different heavy metals, anion-exchange chromatography and an extraction method for iron were applied. The detection limits obtained were (in ng/g): U=0.007, Th=0.017, Tl=0.06, Cd=1, Zn=8, and Fe=11, which demonstrates that the particularly critical radioactive impurities uranium and thorium could be analysed down to the low pg/g range. Three cobalt samples of different purity were analysed with concentrations ranging from about 0.1 ng/g for U and Th in an ultra high-purity material produced for microelectronic purposes, up to about 70 μg/g for Cd in a cobalt sample with declared purity of 99.8%. Because IDMS usually results in accurate analytical results, it can be used in the future for calibration of other methods like glow discharge mass spectrometry, as could be shown by analysing one cobalt sample by both methods. IDMS can also be applied for the production of urgently needed certified standard reference materials in this important field of high technology.

Determination of serum cholesterol by isotope dilution mass spectrometry with a benchtop capillary gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer: comparison with the National Reference System's Definitive and Reference Methods

We developed an isotope dilution mass spectrometric cholesterol method with [25,26,27-13C]cholesterol as internal standard and a benchtop gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) that is much easier and less time consuming than previously described Reference and Definitive Methods for cholesterol. The internal standard, cholesterol standards, and unknown specimen are delivered volumetrically with an automated dilutor and the saponifying reagent. After saponification, extraction, and derivatization, specimens are injected into a benchtop quadrupole MS with an autosampler. Unknown cholesterol concentrations are calculated automatically by comparing the peak area ratio of the m/z = 368, 371 ion pair with the ratios for the cholesterol standards (0 to 12.93 mmol/L). We found within-run and day-to-day (overall) imprecision of 0.44% and 0.95%, respectively, when specimens were assayed singly. In several lyophilized and frozen Standard Reference Material (SRM) pools, cholesterol results with our GC/MS method averaged 0.4% less than the National Institute for Standards and Technology definitive GC/MS result performed about three years earlier. Our GC/MS results averaged 1.3% and 2.0% less than results by the National Reference System (NRS) Abell-Levy-Brodie-Kendall (ALBK) results from clinical specimens and the SRM pools, respectively. These results are consistent with the previously reported bias between the NRS Reference and Definitive Methods and the 0.1% per year decrease in cholesterol concentrations in SRM pools as determined by GC/MS analysis. These results further emphasize the small but consistent bias between cholesterol results by isotope dilution mass spectrometry and the ALBK Reference Method, the latter being the basis for the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines and population reference values.

Determination of serum uric acid by isotope dilution mass spectrometry as a new candidate definitive method

A new isotope dilution mass spectrometric method for uric acid is described. A known weight of [1,3-15N2]uric acid is added to a known weight of serum, and the mixture is allowed to equillibrate. The serum is put through an anion-exchange resin, and the isolated uric acid is converted to the tetrakis-(tert-butyldlmethylsilyl) derivative of uric acid. For measurement, the derivative is injected into a gas chromatograph interfaced with a low-resolution, magnetic sector mass spectrometer. Isotope ratio measurements are made from the abundances of the [M - tert-butyl]+ ions at m/z 567 and 569. Bias is investigated by measuring the uric acid level in the same samples under different chromatographic conditions and with different ionization techniques. If these confirmatory measurements agree with the principal measurements, we have strong evidence for the absence of measurement bias. Uric acid was determined in three lyophilized human serum pools by this method. For Standard Reference Material (SRM) 909, four sets of six samples each were prepared. For Candidate SRM 909a, which consisted of two pools, each with a different level of uric acid, six sets of two samples of each level were prepared. The coefficient of variation for a single measurement ranged from 0.34% to 0.42%, while the relative standard error of the mean ranged from 0.08% to 0.14%. The results from the confirmatory measurements demonstrated that there was no significant bias in the measurements. The combination of high precision and absence of significant bias in the results qualifies this method as a candidate definitive method as defined by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards.

Determination of serum cholesterol by a modification of the isotope dilution mass spectrometric definitive method [Erratum to document cited in CA111(7):53671m

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTDetermination of serum cholesterol by a modification of the isotope dilution mass spectrometric definitive method [Erratum to document cited in CA111(7):53671m]Polly. Ellerbe, Stanley. Meiselman, Lorna T. Sniegoski, Michael J. Welch, and Edward V. WhiteCite this: Anal. Chem. 1990, 62, 9, 976Publication Date (Print):May 1, 1990Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 May 1990https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00208a016RIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views20Altmetric-Citations-LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit PDF (117 KB) Get e-Alerts Get e-Alerts

Determination of serum cholesterol by a modification of the isotope dilution mass spectrometric definitive method.

An isotope dilution mass spectrometric (ID/MS) method for cholesterol is described that uses capillary gas chromatography with cholesterol-13C3 as the labeled internal standard. Labeled and unlabeled cholesterol are converted to the trimethylsilyl ether. Combined capillary column gas chromatography and electron impact mass spectrometry are used to obtain the abundance ratio of the unlabeled and labeled [M+.] ions from the derivative. Quantitation is achieved by measurement of each sample between measurements of two standards whose unlabeled/labeled ratios bracket that of the sample. Seven pools were analyzed by this method: standard reference material (SRM) 1951, which consists of three frozen serum pools with low, medium, and high levels of cholesterol; SRM 1952, which consists of three freeze-dried serum pools with low, medium, and high levels of cholesterol; and SRM 909, a freeze-dried serum pool. The method is a modification of our original definitive method for cholesterol. The modified method uses much better chromatographic separations to assure specificity and a new method of implementing selected ion monitoring on a magnetic mass spectrometer to obtain high-precision measurements of ion intensity ratios on narrow gas chromatographic peaks. The modified method has a coefficient of variation (CV) of 0.22%, which is an improvement over the original method's CV of 0.36%. The measurements were found to be free of interference. The high precision and absence of bias qualify this method as a candidate definitive method.

Simultaneous Determination of Testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone and 5α‐Androstan‐3α,‐17β‐Diol by Isotopic Dilution Mass Spectrometry in Plasma and Prostatic Tissue of Patients Affected by Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Effects of 3‐Month Treatment with a GnRH Analog

This article reports an isotope dilution mass spectrometric method for the simultaneous measurement of testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and 5 alpha-androstan-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol (3 alpha-diol) in human plasma and prostatic tissue. After addition of tri-deuterated steroids as internal standards to prostatic tissue homogenates or plasma samples, extraction was performed with diethylether. The extracts were purified by two chromatographic steps (Sep-Pak C 18 cartridge and Sephadex LH-20) and injected into a gas chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometer after derivatization with heptafluorobutyric acid. This method was highly specific and showed good precision, accuracy, reproducibility and sensitivity. T, DHT, and 3 alpha-diol were measured in human plasma and in prostatic tissue of seven patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treated for 3 months with a long acting GnRH analog before surgery. Plasma levels of T, DHT, and 3 alpha-diol were reduced by GnRH analog treatment to castrate levels. The tissue concentrations of the same steroids, compared with those obtained from 19 untreated patients, showed a mean reduction of about 90% for DHT and 3 alpha-diol, and about 75% for T. These results suggest that about 90% of prostatic DHT and 3 alpha-diol depend on testicular activity because they are dramatically reduced after pharmacologic castration.

Measurement of plasma oxalate by capillary gas chromatography and its validation by isotope dilution mass spectrometry

A capillary gas chromatographic method for plasma oxalate and an isotope dilution mass spectrometric reference method, both using the same tert.-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives, are described. Similar reference ranges for both were found (4.93 ± 1.48 and 4.70 ± 1.44 μmol/l, respectively), together with a close correlation for results covering a wide range of oxalate concentrations.

Determination of the urinary cortisol production rate using (1,2,3,4-13C)cortisol. Isotope dilution analyses at very small enrichments.

An isotope dilution mass spectrometric method to determine the urinary cortisol production rate (CPR) in babies and children is described. The method uses stable isotopically labelled (1,2,3,4-13C)cortisol. The tracer is intravenously administered to the patient and urine is collected for the following three days. Following extraction, enzymic hydrolysis, purification and isolation by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) the urinary cortisol metabolites tetrahydrocortisone, tetrahydrocortisol, alpha- and beta-cortolone are separately oxidized the common product, 11-oxo-aetiocholanolone. The methyl oxime tert-butyldimethylsilyl ether derivative (MO TBDMS) was analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Quantification of the isotope enrichment was carried out by unlabelled, and at m/z 348 for labelled 11-oxo-aetiocholanolone. HPLC isolation of the metabolites together with the oxidation step allowed very small isotope enrichments, sometimes down to 0.1% (1:1000), to be reliably measured against a linear calibration graph containing 0 to 1% (13C4) enrichments. The standards for the calibration graph were synthesized from mixtures of labelled (13C4) cortisol and natural cortisol, and the calibration graph was prepared each time samples were measured. The long term instrumental precision of the isotope dilution analyses was 0.91% for a derivatized sample containing a (13C4) enrichment of 0.5% (measured on six different days over seven months). The coefficient of variation of the complete procedure for the four cortisol metabolites was between 1.17 and 2.14%. The clinical applicability of the method is demonstrated by presenting the results of a CPR determination in a patient.

A comparison of isotope dilution mass spectrometric methods for the assay of copper in copper ore reference materials

The trend toward lower assays in the repeated determination of copper in copper ore, Standard Reference Material 332, have resulted in the withdrawal of this reference material due to material instability. Recent analyses by both isotope dilution thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) and isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) have confirmed this change in copper assay. In this study ICP-MS was shown to be an excellent method for the determination of the concentration of copper in copper ore and therefore may be capable of relatively high precision for a number of elements in inorganic matrices. Two experiments were designed to study the relationship between the high loss of volatile components on drying and the corresponding low copper assay. The slow oxidation of CuS to CuSO4 was confirmed. The accelerated moisture study indicated that exposure to changes in temperature and relative humidity did not cause this oxidation. Microwave drying provided additional information about moisture associated with the samples that had been oxidised.

Comparison of gas-liquid chromatography, mass fragmentography, and isotope dilution-mass spectrometry for determination of pentobarbitone in human plasma

Comparative studies of gas-liquid Chromatographic, mass fragmentographic methods, and isotope dilution-mass spectrometric assay for the quantitative determination of pentobarbitone in human plasma, are described. Butabarbitone is used as internal standard for the measurement of the drugs by gas-liquid chromatography and mass fragmentography, and deuterated pentobarbitone is used for quantification by the isotope dilution-mass spectrometric method.

Candidate definitive method for the determination of cortisol in human serum.

As a substantial part in the development of a reference material in clinical chemistry, a highly accurate and precise isotope dilution mass spectrometric method has been worked out for the determination of cortisol in human serum. The candidate definitive method consists of addition of 4-[14C]cortisol and, following equilibration, solvent extraction of cortisol and its internal standard from the serum matrix. After conversion into methoxime-trimethylsilyl derivatives, the extract is purified by gel chromatography. Measurements are made by combined capillary gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The ratio of peak heights at m/z 605 and 607 for each sample and calibration mixtures is used for quantification. To ensure maximum accuracy each set of calibration mixtures was composed from two stock solutions and closely bracketed the anticipated serum concentration. An analysis of variance, involving comparison of within-run and between-run variability, gave a total coefficient of variation (CV) of 0.38% for a serum pool containing 90.79 ng cortisol ml-1 serum.