Development of a new method for analyzing free aluminum ions （Al3＋） in seafood using HPLC-ICP-MS

This paper presents a novel method for simultaneous online examination of free aluminum ions （Al3＋） in seafood, using solid- phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography online with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （SPE- HPLC-ICP-MS）, without post-column reaction. The optimum conditions for chromatographic separation of Al3＋ were achieved using an IonPac CS5A analytical column with an IonPac CG5A guard column. The mobile phase consisted of 0.040 mol/L LiOH, 0.0060 mol/L 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid, and 0.090 mol/L CH3COOH （pH 4.7）. The free Al3＋ ions in seafood were extracted by shaking with the mobile phase at 70℃ for 2 h. SPE was conducted using an Oasis MCX, 3cc/60 mg, 30 μm column, which was activated and equilibrated with 2 mL of methanol and 4 mL of deionized water before use. HCl （0.075 mol/L, 2 mL） was used to wash inorganic Al from the SPE column. The standard recoveries of Al3＋ were all above 89% and the relative standard deviations were all below 5%. The proposed method was successfully used for the examination of Al3＋ in seafood samples, and the results were similar to those obtained using the static equilibrium method.