Where does the current methodology stand? What is required for practical application of ICPMS for analysis of fluorinated compounds in real samples?
Over the last decade methods were developed that allow quantitative determination by ICPMS even for an element like chlorine. Fluorine is the only environmentally interesting trace element still not routinely accessible by ICPMS. Why? Where does the methodology stand?
Since 2015 work is undertaken by a few research groups to develop molecular ICPMS for the detection of fluorine as BaF+ ion. Beside a few fundamental studies this area has not taken off fast despite the urgent requirement for sensitive fluorine detection.
In the early years of commercial ICPMS some studies using negative ion ICPMS were undertaken, but they also never got beyond some basic fundamental studies.
In contrast molecular mass spectrometry (MS) in targeted mode has been developed to a level allowing detection of ionisable fluorinated compounds down to a level of 1 to 2 ng/L. MS detection is, however, compound dependent and only really quantifiable when applying it to known compounds. Several studies applying other detection methods, like combustion ion chromatography, have shown that using molecular MS only will not allow quantification of all fluorinated compounds in a given sample.
ICPMS could fill that gap. This lecture will give an inside what the limitations holding this technique back from achieving its potential are?