A reactor/phase separator coupling capillary electrophoresis to hydride generation and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (CE-HG-ICP OES) for arsenic speciation

The separation of inorganic arsenic species by capillary electrophoresis, CE, and the post column on line arsine generation was performed in a homemade system coupled to an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. CE was coupled with a hydride generation reactor/phase separator using a T interface. The hydrides were formed and separated in a device constructed with a 10 ml syringe. Capillary dimensions, flow-rates and connection arrangements were optimised to avoid backpressure in the electrophoresis capillary and to attain good resolution of the enlarged peaks. The CE-HG-ICP signals for As(m) and As(v) presented a peak area increase of a factor around 40 compared with those attained using the direct CE-ICP.