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TSRC, Tob. Sci. Res. Conf., 2023, 76, abstr. 19

Desolvating introduction system temperature optimization for linear zinc, cadmium, and tin calibrations with Triple Quad ICP-MS for e-cigarette aerosol analysis

GRAY N.; PAPPAS R.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

Toxic metals in e-cigarette aerosols are generally derived from corrosion of device components rather than from the source e-liquid. Therefore, toxic metal concentrations in the aerosols are often at trace levels, requiring an analytical method with high sensitivity for metals at low concentrations in aerosols from these devices. Aerosol is collected as previously described following ISO Standard 20768 puff regimen with a fluoropolymer condensation tube. Calibration standards are prepared in a 2% v/v nitric acid, 1% v/v hydrochloric acid, and 0.25% v/v hydrofluoric acid matrix. Higher sensitivity is achieved by using an Apex™ HF desolvating introduction system with “Triple Quad” Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS; Agilent, Santa Clara, CA) for the analysis of chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, tin, and lead in aerosols. The Apex™ is designed with a heated cyclonic spray chamber followed by a peltier-cooled condenser to reduce solvent load and plasma interferences. However, occasional problems with zinc, cadmium, and tin calibration linearity were observed when the Apex system was operated at the default temperature of 140 °C. This temperature is above the boiling point of zinc nitrate hexahydrate (105-131 °C), cadmium nitrate tetrahydrate (132 °C), and tin(IV) chloride (114 °C) species which could occur in the presence of nitrate and chloride anions in the dilute acid solvents. If zinc, cadmium, or tin are in these forms, inconsistent analyte loss may occur from boiling. The new generation Apex permitted decreased spray chamber temperature, which rendered calibrations for zinc, cadmium, and tin consistently linear at 100 °C, improving calibration and quality control results. A summary of results from analysis of e-cigarette aerosols with low metal concentrations using the improved temperature-controlled system are presented.