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Home ›› About Speciation ›› Speciation News

Trace element speciation analysis for environmental sciences

(29.03.2014)

Chemical speciation analysis for the environment is needed to provide information about the status as well as the processes involved for the emission, cycling, degradation and fate of matter in the environment.

As always, chemical analysis is acting as an information science, providing the data necessary to answer certain questions, such as:

Data on the emission, transport and exchange of matter between different compartments of the environment.
Data on the chemistry, geo-chemistry, bio-geo-chemistry of different pollutants and other materials in the environment.
Data on the bioaccessibility, bioavailability and toxicity of pollutants towards plants, animals and humans.
Data on the chemical and physical effects of pollutants with respect to the energy balance, mass and energy flows of the earth.

NB!: Such characteristics depends primarily on chemical species not on their elemental composition !

Since trace element analysis does not provide the information for a deep understanding of environmental processes involved in the cycling of elemental species in the environment, its application is costly since it is not fit-for-purpose.

Despite such lack in information value, most often legislation is calling for trace element analysis with limited information value, simply to compare the results with those obtained in former years (kind of status monitoring). However in research work, were the aim is to understand processes and follow the species on their way through environmental compartments and their transformation by biogeochemical processes, chemical speciation analysis is mandatory.

It is this understanding, which has led to an increasing use of speciation analytical methodology in environmental analysis. The EVISA News (see below) provide an overview of the hot topics discussed during the last 10 years. Review articles may guide the interested reader towards the relevant literature:

Reviews related to chemical speciation analysis for the environment (newest first)

M. Llaver, E.F. Fiorentini, M.N. Oviedo, P.Y. Quintas, R.G. Wuilloud, Elemental Speciation Analysis in Environmental Studies: Latest Trends and Ecological Impact, Int. J. Environ. Res. Pub. Health, 18/22 (2021) 12135. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182212135

L.H. Liu, Y.G. Yin, L.G. Hu, B. Hu, J.B. Shi, G.B. Jiang, Revisiting the forms of trace elements in biogeochemical cycling: Analytical needs and challenges, Trends Anal. Chem., 129 (2020) 115953. DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2020.115953

R. Milacic, J. Scancar, Cr speciation in foodstuffs, biological and environmental samples: Methodological approaches and analytical challenges - A critical review, Trends Anal. Chem., 127 (2020) 115888. DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2020.115888

H.M. Yu, C.H. Li, Y.F. Tian, X.M. Jiang, Recent developments in determination and speciation of arsenic in environmental and biological samples by atomic spectrometry, Microchem. J., 152 (2020) 104312. DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2019.104312

F. Ardini, G. Dan, M. Grotti, Arsenic speciation analysis of environmental samples, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 35/2 (2020) 215-237. DOI: 10.1039/c9ja00333A

M.C. He, N.N. Wang, X.J. Long, C.J. Zhang, C.L. Ma, Q.Y. Zhong, A.H. Wang, Y. Wang, A. Pervaiz, J. Shan, Antimony speciation in the environment: Recent advances in understanding the biogeochemical processes and ecological effects, J. Environ. Sci. (China), 75 (2019) 14-39. DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2018.05.023

L.N. Suvarapu, S.O. Baek, Recent Studies on the Speciation and Determination of Mercury in Different Environmental Matrices Using Various Analytical Techniques, Int. J. Anal. Chem., 2017 (2017) 3624015. DOI: 10.1155/2017/3624015

Emilia Grygo-Szymanko, Anna Tobiasz, Stanislaw Walas, Speciation analysis and fractionation of manganese – a review, Trends Anal. Chem., 80 (2016) 112-124. DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2015.09.010

Nikolaos Kallithrakas-Kontos, Spyros Foteinis, Recent Advances in the Analysis of Mercury in Water - Review, Current Anal. Chem., 12 (2016) 22-36. DOI: 10.2174/157341101201151007120324

E.M. Kroukamp, T. Wondimu, P.B.C. Forbes, Metal and metalloid speciation in plants: Overview, instrumentation, approaches and commonly assessed elements, Trends Anal. Chem., 77 (2016) 87–99. DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2015.10.007

Daniel Sánchez-Rodas, Ana M. Sánchez de la Campa, Louay Alsioufi, Analytical approaches for arsenic determination in air: A critical review, Anal. Chim. Acta, 898 (2015) 1–18. DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2015.09.043

M. Jablonska-Czapla, Manganese and its speciation in environmental samples using hyphenated techniques: A review, J. Elem., 20/4 (2015) 1061-1075. DOI: 10.5601/jelem.2014.19.4.787

Sven Sindern, Jan Schwarzbauer, Lars Gronen, Alexander Görtz, Stefan Heister, Manuela Bruchmann, Tl-speciation of aqueous samples – a review of methods and application of IC-ICP-MS/LC-MS procedures for the detection of (CH₃)₂Tl⁺ and Tl⁺ in river water, Int. J. Environ. Anal. Chem., 95/9 (2015) 790-807. DOI: 10.1080/03067319.2015.1058932

W.A. Maher, M.J. Ellwood, F. Krikowa, G. Raber, S. Foster, Measurement of arsenic species in environmental, biological fluids and food samples by HPLC-ICPMS and HPLC-HG-AFS, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 30/10 (2015) 2129-2183. DOI: 10.1039/c5ja00155b

Chris F. Harrington, Robert Clough, Steve J. Hill, Yolanda Madrid, Julian F. Tyson, Atomic Spectrometry Update: review of advances in elemental speciation, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 30 (2015) 1427-1468. DOI: 10.1039/c5ja90028j

Rajani Jagtap, William Maher, Measurement of mercury species in sediments and soils by HPLC–ICPMS, Microchem. J., 121 (2015) 65–98. DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2015.01.010

Maurizio Pettine, Thomas J. McDonald, Mary Sohn, George A.K. Anquandah, Radek Zboril, Virender K. Sharma, A critical review of selenium analysis in natural water samples, Trends Environ. Anal. Chem., 5 (2015) 1–7. DOI: 10.1016/j.teac.2015.01.001

Kiranmayi P. Mangalgiri, Asok Adaka, Lee Blaney, Organoarsenicals in poultry litter: Detection, fate, and toxicity, Environ. Int., 75 (2015) 68–80. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.10.022

Owen T. Butler, Warren R.L. Cairns, Jennifer M. Cook, Christine M. Davidson, 2014 atomic spectrometry update – a review of advances in environmental analysis, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 30/1 (2015) 21-63. DOI: 10.1039/c4ja90062f

Barbara Markiewicz, Izabela Komorowicz, Adam Sajnóg, Magdalena Belter, Danuta Baralkiewicz, Chromium and its speciation in water samples by HPLC/ICP-MS – technique establishing metrological traceability: A review since 2000, Talanta, 132 (2015) 814–828. DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2014.10.002

Christina Hein, Jonas M Sander, Ralf Kautenburger, Speciation via Hyphenation–Metal Speciation in Geological and Environmental Samples by CE-ICP-MS, J. Anal. Bioanal. Tech., 5/6 (2014) 225. DOI: 10.4172/2155-9872.1000225

Yong-Guan Zhu, Masafumi Yoshinaga, Fang-Jie Zhao, Barry P. Rosen, Earth Abides Arsenic Biotransformations, Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., 42 (2014) 443–467. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-earth-060313-054942

Yasuo M. Nakamaru, Javkhlantuya Altansuvd, Speciation and bioavailability of selenium and antimony in non-flooded and wetland soils: A review, Chemosphere, 111 (2014) 366–371. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.04.024

Markus Gräfe, Erica Donner, Richard N. Collins, Enzo Lombi, Speciation of metal(loid)s in environmental samples by X-ray absorption spectroscopy: A critical review, Anal. Chim. Acta, 822 (2014) 1–22. DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2014.02.044

Sergio L.C. Ferreira, Walter N.L. dos Santos, Ivanice F. dos Santos, Mario M.S. Junior, Laiana O.B. Silva, Uenderson A. Barbosa, Fernanda A. de Santana, Antonio F. de S. Queiroz, Strategies of sample preparation for speciation analysis of inorganic antimony using hydride generation atomic spectrometry, Microchem. J., 114 (2014) 22–31. DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2013.11.019

Janez Scancar, Radmila Milacic, A critical overview of Cr speciation analysis based on high performance liquid chromatography and spectrometric techniques, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 29 (2014) 427-443. DOI: 10.1039/c3ja50198a

Jorge Muse, Valeria Tripodi and Silvia Lucangioli, An Overview of Capillary Electrophoresis In Element Speciation Analysis of the Environment, Curr. Anal. Chem., 10/2 (2014) 225-230. DOI: 10.2174/15734110113099990008

M.S. El-Shahawi, H.M. Al-Saidi, E.A. Al-Harbi, A.S. Bashammakh and A.A. Alsibbai, Speciation and Determination of Tellurium in Water, Soil, Sediment and other Environmental Samples, in: Sezgin Bakirdere, Speciation Studies in Soil, Sediment and Environmental Samples, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2013, Pages 527–544. DOI: 10.1201/b15501-15

Valderi Luiz Dressler, Clarissa Marques Moreira dos Santos, Fabiane Goldschmidt Antes, Erico Marlon de Moraes Flores, Dirce Pozebon, Speciation Analysis of Tin in Environmental Samples, in: Sezgin Bakirdere, Speciation Studies in Soil, Sediment and Environmental Samples, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2013, Pages 478-512. DOI: 10.1201/b15501-13

Nsikak U. Benson, Winifred U. Anake, Ifedolapo O. Olanrewaju, Analytical Relevance of Trace Metal Speciation in Environmental and Biophysicochemical Systems, Am. J. Anal. Chem., 4 (2013) 633-641. doi: 10.4236/ajac.2013.411075

Jacek Namiesnik, Anna Rabajczyk, Speciation Analysis of Chromium in Environmental Samples, Crit. Rev. Environ. Sci. Technol., 42 (2012) 327–377. DOI: 10.1080/10643389.2010.518517

Debasis Das, Utpal Gupta, Arabinda K. Das, Recent developments in solid phase extraction in elemental speciation of environmental samples with special reference to aqueous solutions, Trends Anal. Chem., 38 (2012) 163-171. doi: 10.1016/j.trac.2011.01.020

Muhammad Shoaib, Hassan Mohammad Al-Swaidan, Review on Toxic Metal Speciation Analysis Based on Coupled Technique HPLC-ICP-MS (environmental aspects), J. Chem. Soc. Pak., 34 (2012) 1585-1593.

Ying Gao, Zeming Shi, Zhou Long, Peng Wu, Chengbin Zheng, Xiandeng Hou, Determination and speciation of mercury in environmental and biological samples by analytical atomic spectrometry, Microchem. J., 103 (2012) 1–14. doi: 10.1016/j.microc.2012.02.001

Sudhir Kumar Pandey, Ki-Hyun Kim, Richard J.C. Brown, Measurement techniques for mercury species in ambient air, Trends Anal. Chem., 30/6 (2011) 899-917. doi: 10.1016/j.trac.2011.01.017

Regina de Carvalho Oliveira, Ricardo Erthal Santelli, Occurrence and chemical speciation analysis of organotin compounds in the environment: A review, Talanta 82 (2010) 9–24. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2010.04.046

Jacek Namiesnik, Anna Rabajczyk, The Speciation of Aluminum in Environmental Samples, Crit. Rev. Anal. Chem., 40/2 (2010) 68—88. DOI: 10.1080/10408340903153234

Maximilian Popp, Stephan Hann, Gunda Koellensperger, Environmental application of elemental speciation analysis based on liquid or gas chromatography hyphenated to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry—A review, Anal. Chim. Acta, 668 (2010) 114–129. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2010.04.036

R. Miravet, E. Hernandez-Nataren, A. Sahuquillo, R. Rubio, J.F. Lopez-Sanchez, Speciation of antimony in environmental matrices by coupled techniques, Trends Anal. Chem., 29/1 (2010) 28-39. doi: 10.1016/j.trac.2009.10.006

Janet G. Hering, Metal speciation and bioavailability: revisiting the ‘big questions’, Environ. Chem. 2009, 6, 290–293. doi: 10.1071/EN09021

Erwin Rosenberg, Germanium: environmental occurrence, importance and speciation, Rev. Environ. Sci. Bio/Technol., 8 (2009) 29-57. doi: 10.1007/s11157-008-9143-x

Jörg Feldmann, Pascal Salaün, Enzo Lombi, Critical review perspective: elemental speciation analysis methods in environmental chemistry – moving towards methodological integration, Environ. Chem., 6 (2009) 275–289. doi: 10.1071/EN09018

Markus Lenz, Piet N.L. Lens, The essential toxin: The changing perception of selenium in environmental sciences, Sci. Tot. Environ., 407 (2009) 3620-3633. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.07.056

Zu Liang Chen., Gary Owens, Trends in speciation analysis of vanadium in environmental samples and biological fluids—A review, Anal. Chim. Acta., 607 (2008) 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2007.11.013