Continuous flow vapor generation for inductively coupled argon plasma spectrometric analysis. Part 2. Arsenic.

Total arsenic is determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission using hydride vapor generation. A 1 g sample is wet washed in a 16 x 150 mm 10 mL volumetric test tube on a programmed heating block with nitric, sulfuric, and perchloric acids at up to 310 degrees C. After treatment with hydrochloric acid and potassium iodide, arsenic is reduced by sodium borohydride to arsine in a simplified continuous flow manifold. A standard pneumatic nebulizer affects the gas-liquid separation of AsH3, which is quantified by ICP atomic emission at 193.756 nm. The instrument detection limit for the method has been determined to be 0.4 microgram/L. For a 10:1 dilution of a nominal 1 g sample, the detection limit is 4 micrograms/kg and the linear range is up to 4 mg/kg. Recoveries from 3 matrixes were 99-104%, with a typical RSD of 2%. The method has demonstrated statistical control for samples of biological interest and is especially well suited to analysis of small samples.