Analysis of inorganic species by capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry and ion exchange chromatography-mass spectrometry using an ion spray source

Mixtures of inorganic ions separated by capillary electrophoresis (CE) and ion exchange chromatography (IC) are detected by mass spectrometry (MS) using an ion spray atmospheric pressure ionization source. The selectable degree of ion-adduct declustering and molecular fragmentation in the MS interface region allows the system to be operated as an elemental analyzer or as a molecular detector suitable for oxidation state determinations. Both inorganic anions and cations (including alkalis, alkaline earths, transition metals, and lanthanides) are analyzed by CE-MS. A variety of CE separation buffers are evaluated for the cation analyses (e.g., creatinine, ammonium acetate, and trishydroxymethyl]aminomethane). Only one of the buffers (i.e., creatinine) can be used for CE-indirect UV detection. A CE capillary permanently coated with strong anion exchange sites and a pyromellitic acid buffer (suitable for indirect UV detection) is used for the inorganic anion separations. The coated column eliminates the need for buffer modifiers to reverse the flow in the capillary, which then reduces background noise and mass spectral complexity. The separation and detection of 13 inorganic anions are also accomplished by IC using an anion exchange column with a carbonate-bicarbonate mobile phase, on-line suppressed conductivity detection, and mass spectrometric detection.