Thermospray Mass Spectrometry Ionization Processes: Fundamental Mechanisms for Speciation, Separation and Characterization of Organic Complexants in DOE Wastes

[摘要] The overall objective of this research was to develop and enhance our understanding of the identity of major organic complexant species and their products with metals in aqueous mixtures such as those found in DOE radioactive tank wastes. Our approach to achieving this objective was a series of incremental studies involving cooperative efforts at ORNL and at the University of Minnesota. Investigations at ORNL characterized soft ionization mass spectrometry processes for the complexant species by developing and interpreting positive and negative ion thermospray mass spectrometry (TMS) of some organic complexants and their decomposition products and relating the spectral distributions to gas phase chemistry. This knowledge of the gas phase chemistry can be related to known solution chemistry behavior. At the University of Minnesota liquid chromatography separations on zirconia-based chromatographic supports were studied in 2 order to understand the separation of organic complexants and the products formed by complexants with metals in complex aqueous mixtures. This information was used to define the conditions needed to introduce a simplified chemical stream into the mass spectrometer. Ultimately the knowledge gained from these parallel efforts were combined at ORNL to characterize the complexant species in a multi-component aqueous mixture. The final objective was to develop the analytical capability needed to identify complexant species and to define chemical equilibria for these species in DOE waste streams.

[发布日期] 2001-12-31 [发布机构] Oak Ridge National Laboratory

[关键词] Mixtures;Chromatography;37 Inorganic, Organic, Physical And Analytical Chemistry;Wastes;Mass Spectrometers