Hyphenated Methods for Speciation Analysis

Abstract

Speciation analysis, understood as research into various element forms, is gaining importance in environment protection; biogeochemical cycles of chemical compounds; determination of toxicity and ecotoxicity of selected elements; quality control of food, medicines, and pharmaceutical products; examination of occupational exposure and clinical analysis. The hyphenated methods, in which separation method is coupled with multidimensional detectors, have become very useful in such analyses. The main advantages of those methods consist in extremely low detection and quantification limits, insignificant interference influence as well as high precision and repeatability of the determinations. The following article describes the role and importance of hyphenated methods in speciation analyses of selected elements.