Analytical Sciences

Abstract − Analytical Sciences, 30(12), 1173 (2014).

Highly Selective Detection of Trace Copper(II) Using Bathocuproinesulfonate by Flow-Injection Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Masanobu MORI, Keiko MISAWA, and Hideyuki ITABASHI
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Gunma University, 1-5-1 Tenjin-cho, Kiryu, Gunma 376-8515, Japan
Trace Cu2+ was detected with high selectivity using specific complexation with bathocuproinesulfonate (BCS) through flow-injection electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (FI-ESI-MS), which separates Cu2+ from coexisting metal ions by forming a Cu–BCS complex with a high mass number. Here, only [CuI(BCS)2]3− was obtained with a high ion count. Its calibration curve was linear from 1.0 × 10−8 to 1.0 × 10−5 M. This method was applied to determine the Cu-complexing capacities of humic acid solution and river water samples by adding traces of Cu2+.