Derivatization chemistries for the determination of inorganic anions and structurally related compounds by gas chromatography - A review

• Published in: Analytica chimica acta Vol. 1025; pp. 12 - 40
• Main Authors: Pagliano, Enea, Campanella, Beatrice, D'Ulivo, Alessandro, Mester, Zoltán
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 26.09.2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Alkalies; Alkyl phosphates; Anions; Arsenates; Arsenite; Chemical compounds; Chromatography; Cyanides; Derivatization; Dimethylarsinic acid; Gas chromatography; Halides; Inorganic anions; Inorganic chemistry; Organic chemistry; Phosphates; Phosphonates; Selenite; Silicates; Sulfide; Thiocyanates; Gas chromatography; Derivatization; Alkyl phosphates; Inorganic anions; Phosphonates
• ISSN: 0003-2670; 1873-4324
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2018.03.043

Gas chromatography (GC) methods for the determination of inorganic anions and structurally related compounds are reviewed. In their native form, such analytes are polar and non-volatile, therefore they require derivatization before GC analysis. Several chemistries have been employed to convert anions to volatile molecules with applications to a wide set of analytes: nitrite, nitrate, halides, azide, bromate, iodate, borate, carbonate, thiocyanate, cyanide, sulfide, silicates, phosphates, phosphonates, selenite, selenate, arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic acid, and dimethylarsinic acid have been measured following GC separation. In this review, most derivatization chemistries employed for anions are discussed with attention to molecular aspects of the conversion, experimental conditions, applications to complex sample matrices, and figure of merits. [Display omitted] •Conversion of inorganic anions and structurally related compounds in volatile molecules.•Discussion of derivatization chemistry molecular aspects.•Applications to complex matrices such as clinical, environmental and food samples.•Implementation of isotope dilution GC-MS for high-precision quantitation.•Health and safety considerations when working with derivatizing agents.