LC–ICP–MS analysis of arsenic compounds in dominant seaweeds from the Thermaikos Gulf (Northern Aegean Sea, Greece)

Abstract

-Arsenic content in dominant seaweed from the Thermaikos Gulf was determined -Total arsenic values are lower than those found in other Mediterranean seaweeds -As speciation of water extracts from the algae are performed by LC-ICP-MS -Arsenosugars are measured in all samples The content of total arsenic and arsenic compounds in the dominant seaweed species in the 18 Thermaikos Gulf, Northern Aegean Sea, was determined in samples collected in different seasons.

A field deployable method for a rapid screening analysis of inorganic arsenic in seaweed

“…Seaweeds are thought to absorb As as As V through phosphate channels due to its similarities to phosphate (H 2 PO 4 − versus H 2 AsO 4 − ) [16]. After absorption, As V is transformed to arsenosugars which make up 80–90% of the total As in most seaweed species [17]. …”

Determination of Arsenic Species in Edible Seaweeds by HPLC–ICP-MS After Pressurized Hot Water Extraction

“…The total arsenic concentration (after MAE-ICP-MS) varied widely and was in the range of 7.8 to 55.6 µg g -1 . These variations are attributable to the species of algae analyzed and other factors, such as collection points, maturity degrees of seaweeds, light intensity, turbidity, temperature, depth, salinity, and nutrient uptake (4,13,31). High arsenic concentrations were obtained for the Kombu (55.6 µg g -1 ) and Nori (39.4-54.4 µg g -1 ) samples.…”

“…Arsenic speciation studies focusing mainly on different edible seaweeds include Nori (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8), Wakame (4-9), Hijiki (4,5,(10)(11)(12), Fucus (5,13 ), Sea Spaghetti (5), Kombu (5,7,8), Laminaria (5,6), Sargaso (5,6), Sea Lettuce (7,8,13) or Codium (13). The arsenic content in other algae and seaweeds were reported by Arame (5), Hypnea (13), Cladophora and Chara (14), Turner (15), and Kelp (16). In addition, bioaccessibility and bioavailability studies were developed to assess the bioavailability ratios of toxic and non-toxic arsenic species in edible seaweeds (4,7,8,17).…”

“…Several "classic" pre-treatments based on solvents assisted by mechanical shaking (4,(13)(14)(15)18) and ultrasonic (3, 4, 7-9, 11, 16) or microwave (5,6,12) energy have been applied to arsenic species extraction from seaweeds. The main drawback with most of these procedures is that they are very time-consuming.…”

“…Typical extraction times reported are 15 minutes (3,4,16), 30 minutes (11), 60 minutes (7,8), or 180 minutes (9) for ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE); 5 minutes (12), 15 minutes (5), and 30 minutes (6) for microwaveassisted extraction (MAE); or 120 minutes (18), overnight (15), and 16 hours (13,14) for shaking procedures. Also, the use of large amounts of solvents [de-ionized water (DIW) (5,9,(11)(12)(13)(14)18), methanol (MeOH)/DIW mixtures (3,4,15,16), ammonium carbonate (6) or ammonium acetate (7,8) buffers] and extract handling (centrifugation steps are required) before analysis are other important disadvantages of these classical procedures. There is, therefore, an interest in developing automated, rapid extraction, and green methods that guarantee high recovery of the analytes.…”