Investigation of arsenic speciation in oyster test reference material by multidimensional HPLC-ICP-MS and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ES-MS-MS)
Abstract
Multidimensional (size-exclusion–anion-exchange–cation-exchange) liquid chromatography with ICP-MS detection was developed to produce a map of water-soluble species in an oyster test reference material. The presence of arsenobetaine, trimethyl(2-carboxyethyl)arsonium inner salt, arsenocholine, dimethylarsonic acid, tetramethylammonium ion, As(V) and two arsenosugars was demonstrated by ES-MS-MS. A previously unreported compound was isolated and identified by ES-MS-MS as 5-dimethylarsinoyl-β-ribofuranose. Anion-exchange chromatography was optimized to produce a chromatographically pure peak of arsenobetaine (accounting for ca. 64% of all water-soluble As present) that was used to quantify this compound.