Chromatographic and hyphenated methods for elemental speciation analysis in environmental media

Abstract

This review discusses chromatographic techniques that permit the analysis of speciated metals in the environment using conventional detectors, such as UV, and element-specific detectors, such as flame atomic absorption spectrometry, electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The importance of determining precise elemental forms in hazardous waste-contaminated soil, water and biota in terms of toxicity is outlined. Previous reviews on this subject are described and recent research on this subject is discussed. Most of the work cited has been performed in the 1990s and a table summarizing the chromatographic method and the detector system used, including brief comments on the work, is included to enable quick reference.