Simple and Rapid Voltammetric Method Using a Gold Microwire Electrode to Measure Inorganic Arsenic in Holopelagic Sargassum (Fucales, Phaeophyceae)

Abstract

The valorization of massive strandings of holopelagic Sargassum spp. is strongly limited by high levels of inorganic arsenic (Asi) that are potentially above the limit of current regulations. Monitoring Asi in algal biomass is currently achieved using standard chromatographic separation followed by spectroscopic detection. Here, we propose an alternative simpler procedure based on the extraction of Asi from the freeze-dried algal powder in deionized water and the electroanalytical detection of the diluted extract at a gold-microwire electrode. The protocol was optimized both in terms of extraction (powder/water ratio, extraction time, temperature) and electrolyte used for the voltammetric detection. Two electrolytes were tested: one composed of citric acid, sulfamic acid and KCl (pH 2.0) and another composed of an acetate buffer (pH 4.7) and NaCl. We demonstrate here that Asi determination is possible with the first electrolyte but it is necessary to deal with a relative unstable signal. Measurement of Asi was best achieved with the second electrolyte (acetate buffer and NaCl) with the following optimized electrochemical conditions: deposition potential of −1.2 V, deposition time of 30 seconds and linear scan voltammetry. Voltammetric results were then compared to a reference method (HPLC-ICP-MS) using different morphotypes of holopelagic Sargassum spp. (S. natans VIII, S. natans I and S. fluitans III), using commercial extracts of brown seaweeds and using a Hijiki certified reference material. Very good agreement was obtained between our novel method and HPLC-ICP-MS. Both methods show that inorganic arsenic is almost entirely present as As(V) in Sargassum spp. extracts.