DETERMINATION OF ARSENIC SPECIES IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES - (TECHNICAL REPORT)

Identification and quantitative determination methods of arsenic species in environmental and biological samples are discussed. Isolation followed by molecular spectroscopic determination is necessary for rigorous identification while element-specific detections coupled with separation techniques are the choice for quantitative determination. Analytical figures of merit are given for the methods applicable to a specific matrix evaluating hydride generation technique, high performance liquid chromatography coupled with atomic absorption, ICP atomic emission, ICP mass spectrometric detection, thin layer and gas chromatography with atomic absorption spectrometric detection and other methods. Sample preparation is the area that requires attention as it still represents the main source of problems including matrix interference, incomplete recovery and analyte instability.