Sulfur analysis by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry: A review

•Emphasis placed on the sulfur-specific detection by chromatographic techniques coupled on-line to ICP-MS.•Different instrumental approaches available for sulfur measurements by ICP-MS.•Quantification of proteins and the analysis of metalloproteins via sulfur by LC-ICP-MS.•Labelling procedures for metabolic applications are also included.•The measurement of natural variations in S isotope composition with multicollector ICP-MS

In recent years the number of applications of sulfur (S) analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) as detector has increased significantly. In this article we describe in some depth the application of ICP-MS for S analysis with emphasis placed on the sulfur-specific detection by hyphenated techniques such as LC, GC, CE and LA coupled on-line to ICP-MS.The different approaches available for sulfur isotope ratio measurements by ICP-MS are also detailed. Particular attention has been paid to the quantification of peptides/proteins and the analysis of metallopeptides/metalloproteins via sulfur by LC–ICP-MS. Likewise, the speciation analysis of metal-based pharmaceuticals and metallodrugs and non-metal selective detection of pharmaceuticals via S are highlighted. Labeling procedures for metabolic applications are also included. Finally, the measurement of natural variations in S isotope composition with multicollector ICP-MS instruments is also covered in this review.