Fast determination of arsenosugars in algal extracts by narrow bore high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The potential of narrow bore high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with detection by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for fast determination of arsenosugars in algal extracts was explored. The retention behavior of four naturally occurring dimethylarsinoylribosides on an anion-exchange microbore column was investigated, with the mobile phase flow rate ranging from 60 to 200 mu L min(-1). A low sample consumption system consisting of a micronebulizer and a low inner volume cyclonic spray chamber was used as the interface between the micro-column and the ICP mass spectrometer. Both the high efficiency nebulizer, HEN, and the PFA micronebulizer were tested, with the former providing 20-50% greater sensitivity than PFA (depending on the liquid flow rate), but comparable limits of detection and slightly lower chromatographic resolution. With the setup employed and under the optimal conditions, a satisfactory separation of the arsenosugars was achieved in less than 5 min. The instrumental limit of detection was 0.20 mu g As L-1 and the precision was better than 3% (RSD%, n = 5). The accuracy of the determination was verified by the analysis of a reference algal extract, obtaining values in good agreement with the reference ones. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.