Compact integration of gas chromatographer and atomic fluorescence spectrometer for speciation analysis of trace alkyl metals/semimetals

Gas chromatographic separation was coupled with atomic fluorescence spectrometry (GC-AFS) directly via argon-hydrogen flame for integrated GC-AFS instrumentation, i.e., the outlet end of the GC column was directly put into the bottom of the Ar-H-2 flame atomizer without any transportation interface. This laboratory-constructed GC-AFS instrument was preliminarily characterized by its application for the speciation analysis of dimethyl selenide ((Met)(2)Se) and dimethyl diselenide ((Met)(2)Se-2) as well as the two-channel simultaneous determination of tetramethyl tin (Sn(Met)(4)) and tetraethyl lead (Pb(Et)(4)). Under the optimized experimental conditions, the absolute limits of detection of 9.4 pg for (Met)(2)Se, 3.8 pg for (Met)(2)Se-2, 0.23 ng for Sn(Met)(4) and 039 ng for Pb(Et)(4) were obtained. The coupling is simple, and the whole instrument is compact. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.