Compact integration of gas chromatographer and atomic fluorescence spectrometer for speciation analysis of trace alkyl metals/semimetals

Gas chromatographic separation was coupled with atomic fluorescence spectrometry (GC-AFS) directly via argon-hydrogen flame for integrated GC-AFS instrumentation, i.e., the outlet end of the GC column was directly put into the bottom of the Ar-H2 flame atomizer without any transportation interface. This laboratory-constructed GC-AFS instrument was preliminarily characterized by its application for the speciation analysis of dimethyl selenide ((Met)2Se) and dimethyl diselenide ((Met)2Se2) as well as the two-channel simultaneous determination of tetramethyl tin (Sn(Met)4) and tetraethyl lead (Pb(Et)4). Under the optimized experimental conditions, the absolute limits of detection of 9.4 pg for (Met)2Se, 3.8 pg for (Met)2Se2, 0.23 ng for Sn(Met)4 and 0.39 ng for Pb(Et)4 were obtained. The coupling is simple, and the whole instrument is compact.