Determination of arsenic in geological samples by HG AAS

A continuous hydride generation (HG) AAS procedure for the determination of As in geological samples utilizing the SH-group containing amino-acid L-cysteine for the pre-reduction of As(V) to As(III) in HNO3 has been optimized and compared with a method utilizing KI and ascorbic acid in HCl. The influence of some transition metals (Co, Fe, Ni) on the determination of As has been investigated. Decompositions of geological certified reference materials, sediments and soils of different origin and geochemical composition with concentrated HNO3 have been performed in open and closed systems and the resulting As content has been compared with certified and proposed data.