The determination of arsenic(III) and total arsenic by atomic-absorption spectroscopy

Abstract

In the atomic-absorption determination of arsenic by the hydride evolution method with sodium borohydride, maintenance of the pH between 4 and 5 permits the selective determination of arsenic(III) in mixtures of arsenic(III) with arsenic(V). Total arsenic can be determined separately by evolution from 5 M hydrochloric acid. A dissolution technique has been developed for herbage and the method applied to the analysis of water and orchard leaves.