Methods and systems for the quantitative chemical speciation of heavy metals and other toxic pollutants

Abstract

This invention relates to systems and methods for measuring quantitatively multiple species or heavy metals, including mercury, and other toxic pollutants. More specifically, the systems and methods of the invention allows for determination of the analytes even at very low concentration, through concentration on a collection interface, desorption and analysis by mass spectrometry. The invention also provides for a portable device or kit for modifying an existing mass spectrometer.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A portable device connectable to a speciation device for identifying and quantifying metal species in a sample, the portable device comprising a collection interface unit for collecting the sample and concentrating an analyte. 
     
     
         31 . The portable device of  claim 30 , wherein the metal species are based on mercury, and comprise at least one species selected from HgBr 2 , HgCl 2 , HgI 2 , HgCl, HgBr, HgI, HgO, Hg(OH) 2 , and CH 3 HgCl. 
     
     
         32 . The portable device of  claim 30 , wherein the sample includes air, liquid, water, ice, or snow. 
     
     
         33 . The portable device of  claim 30 , wherein the collection interface unit includes at least one collection interface comprising single layer or multi-layers of macro/micro/nano-particles, or a combination thereof; beads or wire coated with macro/micro/nano-particles, or a combination thereof; a tube coated with macro/micro/nano-particles; a tube containing macro/micro/nano-particles beads, or wire, or a combination thereof; uncoated beads; uncoated wire; uncoated tube, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The portable device of  claim 33 , wherein the macro/micro/nano-particles comprise gold- or sulfur-containing compounds, or a combination thereof; and wherein the beads are glass or metal. 
     
     
         35 . The portable device of  claim 30 , wherein the collection interface unit comprises a plurality of collection interfaces, wherein said interfaces are adapted for connection in parallel or in series. 
     
     
         36 . The portable device of  claim 30 , wherein the collection interface unit comprises a first and a second collection interface, the first collection interface comprising gold- or sulfur-containing macro/micro/nano-particles or a mixture of gold- and sulfur-containing macro/micro/nano-particles, and the second collection interface comprising uncoated glass beads. 
     
     
         37 . The portable device of  claim 30 , wherein the speciation device is selected from a mass spectrometer, an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometer, a soft chemical ionization mass spectrometer, an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer, a cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometer and an absorption spectrometer. 
     
     
         38 . The portable device of  claim 30 , wherein the speciation device is a modified speciation device and comprises a deactivated or passivated inner surface, and/or a decreased dead volume inside an inlet. 
     
     
         39 . The portable device of  claim 30 , further comprising at least one aerosol sizer or at least one filter for removing particulates from the sample before the sample is collected. 
     
     
         40 . A system for identifying and quantifying metal species, the system comprising:
 a) a collection interface unit for collecting the sample and concentrating an analyte;   b) a soft ionization mass spectrometer; and   c) a flow tube for connecting an outlet of the collection interface unit to an inlet of the soft ionization mass spectrometer.   
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the metal species are based on mercury, and comprise at least one species selected from HgBr 2 , HgCl 2 , HgI 2 , HgCl, HgBr, HgI, HgO, Hg(OH) 2 , and CH 3 HgCl. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the sample includes air, liquid, water, ice, or snow. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the collection interface unit includes at least one collection interface comprising single layer or multi-layers of macro/micro/nano-particles, or a combination thereof; beads or wire coated with macro/micro/nano-particles, or a combination thereof; a tube coated with macro/micro/nano-particles; a tube containing macro/micro/nano-particles beads or wire, or a combination thereof; uncoated beads; uncoated wire; uncoated tube, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the macro/micro/nano-particles comprise gold- or sulfur-containing compounds, or a combination thereof; and wherein the beads are glass or metal. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the collection interface unit comprises a plurality of collection interfaces, wherein said collection interfaces are adapted for connection in parallel or in series. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the collection interface unit comprises a first and a second collection interface, the first collection interface including gold- or sulfur-containing macro/micro/nano-particles or a mixture of gold- and sulfur-containing macro/micro/nano-particles, and the second collection interface including uncoated glass beads. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the soft ionization mass spectrometer is a modified soft ionization mass spectrometer having deactivated or passivated surfaces exposable to the sample, and/or a decreased dead volume inside an inlet. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 40 , further comprising at least one aerosol sizer or at least one filter for removing particulates from the sample before the sample is collected. 
     
     
         49 . A system for identifying and quantifying metal species, the system comprising:
 a) a collection interface unit for collecting the sample and concentrating an analyte;   b) a speciation device for identifying and quantifying the metal species from the analyte; and   c) a flow tube for connecting an outlet of the collection interface unit to an inlet of the speciation device.   
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the speciation device is selected from a mass spectrometer, soft chemical ionization mass spectrometer, an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometer, an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer, a cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometer and an absorption spectrometer. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the collection interface unit includes at least one collection interface comprising single layer or multi-layers of macro/micro/nano-particles, or a combination thereof; beads or wire coated with macro/micro/nano-particles, or a combination thereof; a tube coated with macro/micro/nano-particles; a tube containing macro/micro/nano-particles beads or wire, or a combination thereof; uncoated beads; uncoated wire; uncoated tube, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein the macro/micro/nano-particles comprise gold- or sulfur-containing compounds, or a combination thereof; and wherein the beads are glass or metal. 
     
     
         53 . A method for identifying and quantifying metal species from a sample, the method comprising:
 a) collecting the sample onto a collection interface in a collection interface unit thereby concentrating an analyte;   b) desorbing the analyte; and   c) identifying and quantifying the analyte's content in metal species using a speciation device.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the metal species are based on mercury, and comprise at least one species selected from HgBr 2 , HgCl 2 , HgI 2 , HgCl, HgBr, HgI, HgO, Hg(OH) 2 , and CH 3 HgCl. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the sample includes air, liquid, water, ice, or snow. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the collection interface unit includes at least one collection interface comprising single layer or multi-layers of macro/micro/nano-particles, or a combination thereof; beads or wire coated with macro/micro/nano-particles, or a combination thereof; a tube coated with macro/micro/nano-particles; a tube containing macro/micro/nano-particles beads or wire, or a combination thereof; uncoated beads; uncoated wire; uncoated tube, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the macro/micro/nano-particles comprise gold- or sulfur-containing compounds, or a combination thereof; and wherein the beads are glass or metal. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein step (a) comprises collecting the analyte on one collection interface comprising gold- or sulfur-containing macro/micro/nano-particles or a mixture of gold- and sulphur-containing macro/micro/nano-particles, and another collection interface comprising uncoated glass beads. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein step (a) comprises collecting the sample onto a plurality of collection interfaces connected in parallel or in series. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the speciation device is selected from a mass spectrometer, a soft chemical ionization mass spectrometer, an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometer, an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer, a cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometer or an absorption spectrometer. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the method includes deactivating or passivating surfaces exposable to the sample in the speciation device, and/or decreasing a dead volume inside an inlet of the speciation device. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising removing particulates from the sample before collection on to the collection interface.