Determination of arsenic species by high-performance liquid chromatography–ultrasonic nebulization–atomic fluorescence spectrometry

Abstract

A novel technique involving the coupling of high-performance liquid chromatography with atomic fluorescence spectrometry using ultrasonic nebulization as an interface was assessed for the determination of As^III, As^V, dimethylarsinic and monomethylarsonic acid. The effects of hydrogen and argon gas flow rates, nebulization temperature, loop volume, pump rate and phosphate buffer conditions on signal intensities were investigated. The detection limit for As^III, As^V, DMAs and MMAs were 35, 50, 20 and 20 ng, respectively (for 250 mm³ volume injected). Linearity ranges were 250–2500 ng for all four arsenic species.