LC-ICP-MS Method Package for Mercury Speciation Analysis

Importance of the Topic

Mercury is a persistent and toxic element that occurs in various chemical forms. Accurate speciation analysis is essential for environmental monitoring, food safety, and regulatory compliance. The combined LC-ICP-MS approach enables simultaneous separation and quantitation of inorganic and organic mercury species with high sensitivity and selectivity.

Objectives and Study Overview

This method package is designed to separate and quantify three mercury species—divalent mercury (Hg2+), methylmercury (MeHg), and ethylmercury (EtHg)—using a Shimadzu LC-ICP-MS system. It aims to simplify method development by providing preconfigured analytical files and procedures, ensuring rapid deployment in routine and research laboratories.

Methodology

The separation uses an isocratic mobile phase composed of methanol and 0.01 mol/L ammonium acetate (8:92) with 0.12% L-cysteine, adjusted to pH 7.5. A Shim-pack Scepter C18-120 metal-free column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) operates at 40 °C with a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Injection volume is 50 µL, providing baseline separation of the three mercury species within a 7 min runtime.

Used Instrumentation

• Shimadzu ICPMS-2040/2050 or ICPMS-2030 series mass spectrometer
• Nexera™ or Prominence™ inert series liquid chromatograph
• Shim-pack Scepter C18-120 metal-free column
• LabSolutions ICPMS TRM software for time-resolved measurement and data integrity

Main Results and Discussion

The optimized conditions yield distinct chromatographic peaks for Hg2+, MeHg, and EtHg with retention times around 7 minutes. Standard mercury solutions demonstrate high reproducibility and sensitivity, enabling reliable quantitation without additional method development. Integration with LabSolutions DB/CS supports secure data management and compliance with data integrity requirements.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Rapid implementation with preloaded method files reduces setup time.
• Simultaneous speciation of multiple mercury forms enhances laboratory efficiency.
• High sensitivity and selectivity support trace-level detection for environmental and food matrices.
• Data integrity features facilitate regulatory compliance and secure recordkeeping.

Future Trends and Applications

Advances may include coupling with high-resolution mass spectrometers for improved isotopic analysis, miniaturized LC-ICP-MS platforms for on-site monitoring, and expanded software integration for automated data interpretation. Emerging regulatory standards may drive demand for multi-element speciation workflows in environmental and food safety laboratories.

Conclusion

The Shimadzu LC-ICP-MS method package provides a robust solution for mercury speciation analysis. Its streamlined workflow, combined with secure data handling, makes it well-suited for routine monitoring and research applications, offering rapid, accurate, and compliant analysis of mercury species.

References

• No literature references provided in the source document.