The work shown here demonstrates the use of IC-MS for the determination of six commonly found cations and selected amines on an IonPac CS12A-5µm column. Confirmatory information was obtained using full-scan MS spectra showing positively charged cation species and characteristic adduct patterns. Quantification was achieved using selected ion monitoring (SIM) acquisitions for each target analyte.

Radioactive isotopes of strontium (90Sr and 89Sr isotopes) are byproducts of nuclear power plant reactions. 90Sr monitoring is needed because 90Sr can displace calcium in bones and teeth, resulting in long term exposure and subsequent increased cancer risk. Ion-exchange chromatography can be used to focus and isolate 90Sr from other isotopes that interfere with accurate scintillation determinations. Here ng/L of non-radioactive Sr as a retention time marker for 90Sr is pre-concentrated, then separated on an IonPac CS12A column, and detected by suppressed conductivity.

The application describes an IC method that achieves better resolution between ammonium and other amines for the determination of ammonia in tobacco smoke. The IC method uses a Dionex IonPac CS19 column set with electrolytically generated MSA gradient. The moderately high capacity of the Dionex IonPac CS19 column allows sample analysis without dilution. The method has high precisions (RSD <0.2% for retention time and <1% for peak area), a low detection limit (0.01 mg/L), and good recoveries (86–115%).

As shown here, the Thermo Scientific Acclaim Mixed-Mode HILIC-1 can analyze the diethylamine derivative under the normal-phase conditions of OSHA Method 41. In this case, 4-chloro-7-nitro-1,2,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-chloride) reacts with amines in the trap, to produce a highly-colored, fluorescent derivative. The unreacted reagent and a trace of monoethylamine eluted at 2.3 and 4.4 minutes, respectively, and neither interferes with the analyte of interest. Compared to the existing OSHA method, the new column provides improved peak shape and faster analysis time.

The Thermo Scientific Acclaim C30 resolved four common volatile amines with simple, isocratic reversed phase conditions. In this case, 4-chloro, 7-nitro, 1,2,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-chloride) reacts with amines in the trap, to produce a highly-colored, fluorescent derivative. The unreacted reagent elutes at 5 minutes and does not interfere with the analytes of interest. This new method is compatible with four existing methods (OSHA Methods 34, 36, 40 and 41), while providing improved peak shape and faster analysis time.