• Spectroscopy and Spectral Analysis
  • Vol. 36, Issue 2, 527 (2016)
WANG Xiao-wei1、*, LIU Jing-fu2, GUAN Hong3, WANG Xiao-yan1, SHAO Bing1, ZHANG Jing1, LIU Li-ping1, and ZHANG Ni-na1
Author Affiliations
  • 1[in Chinese]
  • 2[in Chinese]
  • 3[in Chinese]
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    DOI: 10.3964/j.issn.1000-0593(2016)02-0527-05 Cite this Article
    WANG Xiao-wei, LIU Jing-fu, GUAN Hong, WANG Xiao-yan, SHAO Bing, ZHANG Jing, LIU Li-ping, ZHANG Ni-na. Determination of Total Sulfur Dioxide in Chinese Herbal Medicines via Triple Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry[J]. Spectroscopy and Spectral Analysis, 2016, 36(2): 527 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    As an important treatment method, sulfur fumigation plays an essential role in the production and preservation of traditional Chinese herbal medicines. Although there is strict regulation on the use of sulfur dioxide, the abuse of sulfur dioxide still occurred from time to time. And the public faces a high risk of exposure. Because of the poor precision and tedious preparation procedures of traditional recommended titration, the accurate and convenient determination of sulfur dioxide in Chinese herbal medicines is still a critical analytical task for medicines safety and the public health. In this study, an accurate, high-throughput, and convenient method for the absolute determination of SO2 in Chinese herbal medicines based on triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) technique is developed. The study compared the quantitative ability for sulfur when the ICP-MS operated under traditional single quadrupole (QMS) mode and novel triple quadrupole (MS/MS) mode with three Reaction/Collision cell condition (no gas, helium, and oxygen). The result indicated that when the concentration of sulfate ranging from 0.5 to 100 mg·L-1, isotopic 34S can be selected as quantitative ion either the ICP-MS operated under the QMS mode or MS/MS mode. The use of helium in the Reaction/Collision cell decreased the single intensity of background ions. Better than QMS mode, the MS/MS mode can effectively reduced background interference. But there are no significant differences about the linear range and limit of detection. However, when the ICP-MS operated under MS/MS mode and oxygen was used as reaction gas in the Reaction/Collision cell, the ICP-MS/MS provided an interference-free performance, the linear range and limit of detection improved significantly. Either 32S or 34S exhibits an excellent linearity (r>0.999) over the concentration range of 0.02~100 mg·L-1, with a limit of detection of 5.48 and 9.76 μg·L-1 for 32S16O2-4 and 34S16O2-4, respectively. The Chinese herbal medicines was treated using microwave digestion added 6 mL nitric acid and 2 mL hydrogen peroxide before analysis. The amount of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide were optimized. The method was validated using Chinese herbal standard reference material GBW10020. The sample was treated and detected in six parallel, and the average concentrations obtained using the developed method (0.42%±0.01%) is in excellent agreement with the standard concentration (0.41%±0.03%). The study demonstrates an accurate and convenient approach for the quantification of SO2 in Chinese herbal medicines.
    WANG Xiao-wei, LIU Jing-fu, GUAN Hong, WANG Xiao-yan, SHAO Bing, ZHANG Jing, LIU Li-ping, ZHANG Ni-na. Determination of Total Sulfur Dioxide in Chinese Herbal Medicines via Triple Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry[J]. Spectroscopy and Spectral Analysis, 2016, 36(2): 527
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