Electrospray Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrum Analysis Method of Polyaluminum Chloride Flocculants

Electrospray mass spectrometry has been reported as a novel technique for Al species identification, but to date, the working mechanism is not clear and no unanimous method exists for spectrum analysis of traditional Al salt flocculants, let alone for analysis of polyaluminum chloride (PAC) floccula...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2015-01, Vol.49 (1), p.474-480
Main Authors: Feng, Chenghong, Bi, Zhe, Tang, Hongxiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aluminum Hydroxide - analysis
Feasibility Studies
Flocculation
Hydrolysis
Ions
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Mass Spectrometry
NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Scientific imaging
Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization - methods
Spectrum analysis
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Summary:Electrospray mass spectrometry has been reported as a novel technique for Al species identification, but to date, the working mechanism is not clear and no unanimous method exists for spectrum analysis of traditional Al salt flocculants, let alone for analysis of polyaluminum chloride (PAC) flocculants. Therefore, this paper introduces a novel theoretical calculation method to identify Al species from a mass spectrum, based on deducing changes in m/z (mass-to-charge ratio) and molecular formulas of oligomers in five typical PAC flocculants. The use of reference chemical species was specially proposed in the method to guarantee the uniqueness of the assigned species. The charge and mass reduction of the Al cluster was found to proceed by hydrolysis, gasification, and change of hydroxyl on the oxy bridge. The novel method was validated both qualitatively and quantitatively by comparing the results to those obtained with the 27Al NMR spectrometry.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es503681p