Ultra-trace determination of arsenic species in environmental waters, food and biological samples using a modified aluminum oxide nanoparticle sorbent and AAS detection after multivariate optimization

Abstract

We describe a simple and efficient method for solid phase extraction and speciation of trace quantities of arsenic. It is based on the use of functionalized aluminum oxide nanoparticles and does not require any oxidation or reduction steps. The experimental parameters affecting extraction and quantitation were optimized using fractional factorial design methods. Adsorbed arsenic was eluted from the sorbent with 1 M hydrochloric acid and determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Preconcentration factors up to 750 were achieved depending on the sample volume. Studies on potential interferences by various anions and cations showed the method to be highly selective. Under optimum conditions, the calibration plots are linear in the 5.0 to 280 ng L −1 and 8.0 to 260 ng L −1 concentration ranges for As(III) and total arsenic, respectively. The detection limits (calculated for S/N ratios of 3) are 1.81 and 1.97 ng L −1 for As(III) and total arsenic, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination and speciation of arsenic in (spiked) environmental, food and biological samples and gave good recoveries. The method was validated using a certified geological reference material.

Inorganic Arsenic Determination in Food: A Review of Analytical Proposals and Quality Assessment Over the Last Six Years

“…Hassanpoor et al. 116 describes a new sorbent based on aluminum oxide nanoparticles functionalized by a ligand, applied as a pre-concentration system for inorganic arsenic speciation in spiked food samples, with final measurement by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS).…”

“…A recent review 115 summarizes some applications of these materials as sorbents for arsenic complexes, applied to arsenic species determination with final measurement by spectroscopic techniques, among them ETAAS. Hassanpoor et al 116 describes a new sorbent based on aluminum oxide nanoparticles functionalized by a ligand, applied as a pre-concentration system for inorganic arsenic speciation in spiked food samples, with final measurement by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS).…”

Bifunctional magnesium oxide crystal successively as adsorbent and matrix modifier for preconcentration and determination of arsenic by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

“…Comparing with the previous SPE methods in combination with GFAAS for arsenic detection, e.g. LOD of 15 [43], 20 [36,48], 4.6 [49], 5 [18], and 1.97 [32] ng L −1 , RSD of 3.5% [43,48], 3.9% [49], 3.2% [18], 4.4% [32] and 2.3% [36], the sensitivity of this method is slightly lower than the reported methods, but the reproducibility is at the same level of the reported methods. As the WHO guideline for arsenic concentration in drinking water is 10 μg L −1 , the present method is confidently appropriate for the arsenic detection in the drinking waters.…”

“…To date, solid-phase extraction (SPE) [23,31,32], liquid-liquid extraction [33][34][35], cloud point extraction [30,36,37], co-precipitation [38] and atom/hydride trapping [39][40][41] have been established for arsenic preconcentration and determination. Recently, Chen et al has invented a series of SPE methods for arsenic enriching and analytical performance improving of GFAAS and HGAAS, the adsorbents including akaganeite decorated graphene oxide composite [22], branch-polyethyleneimine modified carbon nanotubes [42] and esterified egg-shell membrane [43] were investigated for arsenic preconcentration, respectively.…”

Atomic Spectrometry Update: review of advances in elemental speciation

“…45 Adsorbed As was eluted from the sorbent with 1 mol L À1 hydrochloric acid. A method using a modied aluminium oxide nanoparticle sorbent and ETAAS detection aer optimization using fractional factorial design method has been reported.…”