Hydride generation-electrostatic deposition-graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric determination of arsenic, selenium and antimony

A system is described and evaluated for the in situ collection of generated hydrides of As, Se and Sb in a graphite furnace using a high voltage electrostatic field. Analytical figures of merit are derived using graphite furnace atomic absorption detection and a characterization of the electrostatic deposition (ED) process is presented based on optimization studies. Absolute detection limits (LOD) of 30, 16 and 33 pg were obtained for As, Se and Sb, respectively, reflecting overall generation/collection efficiencies of 80 +/- 5, 71 +/- 3 and 62 +/- 6%, respectively Precision of replicate determination was typically 4% R.S.D. at a concentration 40-fold above the LOD for a 1 ml sample volume. The accuracy of the approach was demonstrated through the analysis of coastal seawater and marine sediment certified reference materials. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.