Speciation analysis of inorganic arsenic by a multisyringe flow injection system with hydride generation–atomic fluorescence spectrometric detection

Abstract

In this study, a new technique by hydride generation–atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG–AFS) for determination and speciation of inorganic arsenic using multisyringe flow injection analysis (MSFIA) is reported. The hydride (arsine) was generated by injecting precise known volumes of sample, a reducing sodium tetrahydroborate solution (0.2%), hydrochloric acid (6 M) and a pre-reducing solution (potassium iodide 10% and ascorbic acid 0.2%) to the system using a multisyringe burette coupled with one multi-port selection valve. This solution is used to pre-reduce As(V) to As(III), when the task is to speciate As(III) and As(V). As(V) is determined by the difference between total inorganic arsenic and As(III). The reagents are dispensed into a gas–liquid separation cell. An argon flow delivers the arsine into the flame of an atomic fluorescence spectrometer. A hydrogen flow has been used to support the flame. Nitrogen has been employed as a drier gas (Fig. 1). Several variables such as sample and reagents volumes, flow rates and reagent concentrations were investigated in detail. A linear calibration graph was obtained for arsenic determination between 0.1 and 3 μg l −1. The detection limit of the proposed technique (3 σ b/S) was 0.05 μg l −1. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of As at 1 μg l −1 was 4.4 % ( n = 15). A sample throughput of 10 samples per hour was achieved. This technique was validated by means of reference solid and water materials with good agreement with the certified values. Satisfactory results for speciation of As(III) and As(V) by means of the developed technique were obtained.