Perchlorate April 14, 2004 An Integrated Approach to Ensure Reliable Perchlorate Analytical Results

Agenda n Perchlorate Chemistry and Sources n Current Methods for Testing n Ion Chromatography n LC/MS/MS n An Integrated Approach n A Success Story n Summary and Conclusions

Perchlorate Ion n Perchlorate is a compound containing one chlorine atom and four oxygen atoms. n Perchlorate is an ion, meaning it carries an electrical charge, as indicated by the negative sign.

Natural Sources of Perchlorate n Chilean fertilizer deposits n New Mexican potash n Canadian potash n Californian hanksite n Bolivian playa crusts

Anthropogenic Sources of Perchlorate n Rocket Fuel n Fireworks n High explosives n Flares n Herbicides n Automobile airbags n Tracer munitions n Detergents ?

How is perchlorate measured? n EPA Method  Ion chromatography/conductivity detector n Enhanced (Modified)  Suppressed Conductivity Detector n SW-846 Method 9058 (draft)  Ion Chromatography/conductivity detector

How is perchlorate measured? n Other analytical methods that can detect perchlorate:  IC “Improved” Method approved use of 2 nd column confirmation and pre-concentration of samples.  IC/MS (ion chromatography/mass spectrometry) Proposed Method  LC/MS (liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry)  LC/MS/MS (liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry) Method 8321 Modified, Proposed Method 331.0

Ion Chromatography

n An aqueous sample, comprised of components A and B, is injected into the ion chromatograph. n The sample enters the analytical column which is packed with a material that can adsorb the components of the sample. n Some components are more strongly adsorbed. Diagram from Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry, Skoog, 1988.

Ion Chromatography n Fresh solvent is continuously injected into the instrument. n The solvent carries the sample components, A and B, through the column. n Component B is more strongly adsorbed onto the column and is moving thought the column at a slower rate. n The boundary between A and B is indistinct at this point. Diagram from Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry, Skoog, Detector

Ion Chromatography n Component B is almost completely separated from component A. n The boundary between the two components is more distinct. Diagram from Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry, Skoog, Detector

Ion Chromatography n Component B is completely separated from component A. n Component A exits the column through the detector at time t 3. n The detector records component A as a peak (pictured below the column) in the sample chromatogram (graph). Diagram from Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry, Skoog, Detector

Ion Chromatography n Component B exits the column through the detector at time t 4. n The detector records component B as a peak (pictured below the column) in the sample chromatogram. Diagram from Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry, Skoog, Detector Solvent

Diagram from Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry, Skoog, 1988.

Identification of Perchlorate by Ion Chromatography The width of the retention time window used to make identifications should be based upon measurements of actual retention time variations of standards measured over several days. Three times the standard deviation of retention time may be used as a suggested window size but the retention time window should not extend beyond ± 5% of the retention time for perchlorate. The experience of the analyst should weigh heavily in the interpretation of these chromatograms. EPA Method 314.0

IC Perchlorate Standard

High Conductivity

Carry Over

Matrix Spike Confirmation

Matrix Spike Non- Confirmation

Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry

LC/MS/MS n Leading edge technology n DoD Recommended n Pending Regulatory Approval

API MS/MS

Bowling Balls and Feathers: a simplification of mass spec separations

Identification By LC/MS/MS n Liquid chromatography separates perchlorate from other sample components in the same manner that ion chromatography does n Mass spectrometers (MS) are used as detectors in place of the conductivity detector used in IC. n Unlike conductivity detectors, an MS is a specific detector

Detection By LC/MS/MS n The MS counts the number of ions that have a specific molecular weight. Perchlorate has a characteristic molecular weight (MW). n The first MS counts the number of ions that have the MW of perchlorate: 1 Chlorine (35) + 4 Oxygens (16) = 99 n The second MS removes one of the oxygen atoms and then counts the number of “daughter” ions that have that MW: 1 Chlorine (35) + 3 Oxygens (16) = 83 n Chlorine has a less abundant isotope (MW 37), so ions with MW 101 are also counted by the first MS and ions with MW 85 are counted by the second MS. The retention time of the peak for MW 99 must be the same as the retention time of the peak for MW 83 for perchlorate to be confirmed. If the retention times are different, then the two molecular weight were detected from two different components and perchlorate is not confirmed.

Non-detect Analysis by LC/MS/MS Analysis by LC/MS/MS n Reporting limit is 2  g/L. n Bottom chromatogram shows the counts of ions with molecular weight 83 (1 chlorine + 3 oxygens). n Top chromatogram shows the counts of ions with molecular weight (the isotope of chlorine). n Perchlorate is not detected.

Comparison of LC/MS/MS Non-DetectDetect

n Reporting limit 2  g/L. n Bottom left shows MW 83 (1 chlorine + 3 oxygens). n Top left shows MW 85 (the isotope of chlorine). n Right chromatogram show the 18 O internal standard (recovery 88%). n Perchlorate is detected. Detect Analysis by LC/MS/MS

Perchlorate Decision Tree

Success Using the Perchlorate Decision Tree n Approximately 1000 samples were collected and analyzed for perchlorate from August 2003 through January n 89 samples (about 9% of total) were pretreated and reanalyzed. n 39 samples (about 3% of total) were reanalyzed by LC/MS/MS - 24 detects and 15 nondetects. n 10 perchlorate detects (about 0.4% of total) were confirmed by LC/MS/MS – 58% false positive rate and a 0% false negative rate.

Summary n Why use 314.0?  Cost  Capacity  Availability  Promulgated Methods n When to use LC/MS/MS?  Definitive Data  Critical Samples  Small Projects

Thank You Contact Elizabeth Wessling at Questions and Comments