Optimization of a flow injection system with amperometric detection for arsenic determination

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Arsenic contamination in water poses significant health and environmental risks.
• Accurate and rapid determination of arsenic is essential for effective water quality monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a selective and sensitive analytical procedure for rapid arsenic determination.
• To establish a method suitable for analyzing arsenic in complex matrices like power plant wastewater.

Main Methods:

• Gas-diffusion flow injection analysis coupled with amperometric detection.
• Utilized sodium borohydride (NaBH(4)) for arsenite reduction to arsine gas.
• Employed a platinum working electrode for amperometric measurement of arsine.

Main Results:

• Achieved a limit of detection of 5 microg/dm(3) for As(III) at room temperature.
• Demonstrated high precision with a relative standard deviation of 1.96% for 1 mg/dm(3) As(III).
• Successfully determined arsenic(V) after prereduction with potassium iodide, with minimal interference from common ions.

Conclusions:

• The developed method is selective, sensitive, and rapid for arsenic determination.
• The method is robust, showing minimal interference from various ions, making it suitable for real-world samples.
• Successfully applied to analyze arsenic in power plant wastewater, demonstrating its practical utility.