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One-point calibration and matrix-matching concept for quantification of potentially toxic elements in wood by LA-ICP-MS

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Abstract

The aim of this work is to evaluate two quantitative methods, based on the external calibration applied in laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis, known as (i) analytical curve and (ii) one-point calibration, using the concept of matrix matching to quantify three potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in wood samples. These can biologically register changes in the abiotic environment and be applied to monitoring climate change or environmental toxicity. In this case, standard sample preparation was evaluated to prepare the standard pellets using Pinus taeda species as a matrix-matching concept. Six pellets of P. taeda, with different Pb, Cd, and Ba concentrations, were prepared to build the analytical curve and one-point calibration strategies. The LA-ICP-MS parameters were optimised for 206Pb, 208Pb, 112Cd, 114Cd, 137Ba, and 138Ba isotope analysis in wood samples. The two calibration strategies provided 74–110% analytical recovery from certified reference materials and similar results to those obtained by ICP-MS through the acid digestion of environmental wood samples from São Paulo City (Brazil). This demonstrated the applicability of the one-point calibration strategy in quantifying PTEs in wood samples, which could be used with environmental analyses. Differences observed between the Ba isotope results obtained via LA-ICP-MS and ICP-MS quantification were related to sampling by LA-ICP-MS and the ICP-MS sample introduction, as well as to laser matrix and transport effects because of the difference between the wood species evaluated.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Daigard R. Ortega Rodriguez, Prof. Dr Mario Tomazello-Filho and Prof. Dr Giuliano M. Locosselli of University São Paulo (Piracicaba, SP, Brazil) for providing the T. tipu samples from São Paulo (Brazil) city and the P. taeda samples. We also thank Prof. Marcelo Ganzarolli (Institute of Chemistry at University of Campinas) for the use of the freeze-drying equipment.

Funding

This work was financial supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP 2014/50867-3, 2017/50085-3, 2018/25207-0, 2019/00063-9, 2019/24445-8, and 2020/08543-7), and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq 303231/2020-3).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Spectrometry, Sample Preparation and Mechanization Group (GEPAM), Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, PO Box 6154, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil

    Danielle da Silva Francischini & Marco Aurélio Zezzi Arruda

  2. National Institute of Science and Technology for Bioanalytics, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil

    Danielle da Silva Francischini & Marco Aurélio Zezzi Arruda

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  1. Danielle da Silva Francischini
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Correspondence to Marco Aurélio Zezzi Arruda.

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Published in the topical collection Elemental Mass Spectrometry for Bioanalysis with guest editors Jörg Bettmer, Mario Corte-Rodríguez, and Márcia Foster Mesko.

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Francischini, D.d.S., Arruda, M.A.Z. One-point calibration and matrix-matching concept for quantification of potentially toxic elements in wood by LA-ICP-MS. Anal Bioanal Chem 416, 2737–2748 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-023-04999-8

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