TY - JOUR
T1 - Isolation and Identification of Mercury–Dissolved Organic Matter Complexes in Mercury–Humic Acid Suspensions
AU - Qasim, Ghulam Hussain
AU - Harris, Lisa
AU - Mangal, Vaughn
AU - Montesdeoca, Mario
AU - Todorova, Svetoslava
AU - Driscoll, Charles
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2025/4/30
Y1 - 2025/4/30
N2 - Rationale: The complexation with dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a pivotal factor influencing transformations, transport, and bioavailability of mercury (Hg) in aquatic environments. However, identifying these complexes poses a significant challenge because of their low concentrations and the presence of coexisting ions. Methods: In this study, mercury–dissolved organic matter (Hg-DOM) complexes were isolated through solid-phase extraction (SPE) from Hg–humic acid suspensions, and complexes were putatively identified using ultrahigh resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). Results: Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total Hg analysis before and after SPE showed an increase in DOC:Hg ratio. The DOC:Hg ratio was lower in extracts from cartridges with silica structure bonded with hydrocarbon chains (C18) than priority pollutant (PPL) cartridges at circumneutral pH, indicating that C18 was more effective at extracting DOM complexed Hg. These results were confirmed with FTICR-MS analysis, where two Hg-DOM complexes were putatively identified from PPL extracts as opposed to eight from C18 (Winnow score > 75%). In addition, C8H13HgN2O2S, a molecular formula with a m/z ratio of 403.04, was identified across three separate extractions using a C18 cartridge, suggesting that the complexes were preserved during extraction and, presumably, electrospray ionization. Conclusions: The results highlight the effectiveness of the methodology developed in this study—SPE coupled with FTICR-MS for isolating and identifying Hg-DOM complexes. This approach allows for the exploration of the elemental and structural composition of Hg-DOM complexes, which affects Hg speciation, bioavailability, and transformations in aquatic ecosystems. Synopsis: A methodology was developed to identify Hg-DOM complexes at low concentrations to gain insight into mercury bioavailability, transformations, and transport in the environment.
AB - Rationale: The complexation with dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a pivotal factor influencing transformations, transport, and bioavailability of mercury (Hg) in aquatic environments. However, identifying these complexes poses a significant challenge because of their low concentrations and the presence of coexisting ions. Methods: In this study, mercury–dissolved organic matter (Hg-DOM) complexes were isolated through solid-phase extraction (SPE) from Hg–humic acid suspensions, and complexes were putatively identified using ultrahigh resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). Results: Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total Hg analysis before and after SPE showed an increase in DOC:Hg ratio. The DOC:Hg ratio was lower in extracts from cartridges with silica structure bonded with hydrocarbon chains (C18) than priority pollutant (PPL) cartridges at circumneutral pH, indicating that C18 was more effective at extracting DOM complexed Hg. These results were confirmed with FTICR-MS analysis, where two Hg-DOM complexes were putatively identified from PPL extracts as opposed to eight from C18 (Winnow score > 75%). In addition, C8H13HgN2O2S, a molecular formula with a m/z ratio of 403.04, was identified across three separate extractions using a C18 cartridge, suggesting that the complexes were preserved during extraction and, presumably, electrospray ionization. Conclusions: The results highlight the effectiveness of the methodology developed in this study—SPE coupled with FTICR-MS for isolating and identifying Hg-DOM complexes. This approach allows for the exploration of the elemental and structural composition of Hg-DOM complexes, which affects Hg speciation, bioavailability, and transformations in aquatic ecosystems. Synopsis: A methodology was developed to identify Hg-DOM complexes at low concentrations to gain insight into mercury bioavailability, transformations, and transport in the environment.
KW - Hg-DOM complexes
KW - dissolved organic matter
KW - high-resolution mass spectrometry
KW - mercury
KW - solid-phase extraction
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U2 - 10.1002/rcm.9986
DO - 10.1002/rcm.9986
M3 - Article
C2 - 39807069
AN - SCOPUS:85214680783
SN - 0951-4198
VL - 39
JO - Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry
JF - Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry
IS - 8
M1 - e9986
ER -