Determination of arsenic in agricultural soil samples using High-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and direct solid sample analysis

Abstract

Soils around coal-fired thermal power plants based on coal combustion can present high concentrations of arsenic. This fact has a direct effect on the food chain. Arsenic can be absorbed by plants and vegetables through the soil, which will then serve as food for different animals, spreading the contamination. A method has been developed using high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS GFAAS) for direct determination of arsenic in solid soil samples. Different chemical modifiers were tested to suppress the matrix effects observed. Among them, the modifier that showed the best results was the Zr, used as a permanent modifier. The optimized pyrolysis and atomization temperatures were 1000 °C and 2200 °C, respectively. A calibration curve was established using aqueous standard solutions which was linear up to 16 ng of arsenic. The characteristic mass and limit of detection were 22 pg and 73 pg As, respectively. The accuracy of the method was verified using two certified reference materials and comparison with results obtained for samples after microwave-assisted digestion. Eleven soil samples were collected around the power plant Complex Jorge Lacerda-Tractebel Suezin, in the south of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The concentration of As ranged from 3.4 mg kg to 9.7 mg kg, which is within the limits allowed by Brazilian legislation.

Simultaneous Determination of As, Bi, Sb, Se, Te, Hg, Pb and Sn by Small-Sized Electrothermal Vaporization Capacitively Coupled Plasma Microtorch Optical Emission Spectrometry Using Direct Liquid Microsampling

“…The detectability of As, Sb, Se, and Te in our method was poorer than in SSETV-ICP-MS in coal analysis [ 50 ]. Furthermore, the LODs of As and Se were poorer than in GFAAS [ 40 ], while the LOD of As was poorer than in HR-CS-GFAAS with direct solid sampling of soil [ 43 ]. Compared to CVG-HR-CS-GFAAS with in situ hydride trapping, LODs for As, Bi, and Sb were poorer, while that for Hg was quite similar [ 20 , 42 ].…”

“…The direct determination of chemical vapor-generating elements by avoiding derivatization was also attempted. Therefore, mercury determination by thermal decomposition atomic absorption spectrometry (TD-AAS) [ 37 , 38 ], liquid/solid sampling with electrothermal vaporization (ETV) in GFAAS [ 39 , 40 , 41 ], or the emergent HR-CS-ETAAS using Xe lamp [ 42 , 43 ] were successfully applied. At the same time, ICP OES [ 44 ] and ICP-MS [ 45 , 46 ] using pneumatic and ultrasonic nebulization, or solid sampling by laser ablation (LA-ICP-MS) [ 47 ] and LIBS OES [ 48 ] provide simultaneous direct determination without derivatization.…”

A simple and cost-effective paper-based and colorimetric dual-mode detection of arsenic(iii) and lead(ii) based on glucose-functionalized gold nanoparticles

“…Several advanced analytical methods exist for the detection of As(III) and Pb(II) in water samples. Among them, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, 5,6 hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry, 7,8 graphite furnace-atomic absorption spectrometry, 9,10 inductive coupled plasma hyphenated with atomic emission spectrometry, 11,12 inductively coupled plasma hyphenated with mass spectrometry, 13 atomic uorescence spectrometry, 14,15 and cyclic voltammetry 16,17 are the most widely used. The advanced instruments are costly, sensitive, have high consumption, require professional operators and other expensive instruments as well as complex sample pretreatment processes.…”

Facile synthesis of reusable graphene oxide composite magnetic beads for removal of arsenic (III)

“…[6] This type of pollution requires exceptional surveillance because if it is deposited in the soil, it may be consumed quickly by the plants, and transferred to other living beings. [7] Consumptions of arsenic, even in small amounts, may cause bladder, skin, lung, kidney, and liver cancer along with other neurological disorders. [8,9] Many countries of the world are suffering from arsenic contamination, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Taiwan, Chile, China, United States, Canada, and India.…”