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Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Determination of Inorganic Arsenic in a Wide Range of Food Matrices using Hydride Generation - Atomic Absorption Spectrometry.
Published on: September 1, 2017
A comparison between ICP-MS and AFS detection for arsenic speciation in environmental samples
J L Gómez-Ariza1, D Sánchez-Rodas, I Giráldez
1Departamento de Quimica y Ciencia de los Materiales, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Huelva, Campus de La Rabida, 21819 Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, Spain.
This study compares Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry (AFS) for arsenic speciation in environmental samples. Both methods demonstrated comparable detection limits and precision for analyzing various arsenic forms.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Arsenic speciation is crucial for understanding its environmental fate and toxicity.
- Accurate determination of different arsenic species requires advanced analytical techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the performance of ICP-MS and AFS for arsenic speciation in diverse environmental matrices.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of HPLC-HG coupled with these detectors for analyzing common arsenic compounds.
Main Methods:
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with hydride generation (HG) and atomic detectors (ICP-MS and AFS).
- Analysis of arsenite, arsenate, dimethylarsinic acid, and monomethylarsonic acid.
- Optional on-line UV photooxidation for arsenobetaine determination.
Main Results:
- HPLC-HG-AFS achieved detection limits of 0.1–0.3 μg l⁻¹ (as As) with precision >10% RSD, comparable to HPLC-HG-ICP-MS.
- Both coupled techniques were successfully applied to certified reference materials (NRCC-TORT-1) and various environmental samples.
- External calibration and standard addition methods showed no significant matrix effects for either technique.
Conclusions:
- HPLC-HG-AFS and HPLC-HG-ICP-MS are both suitable and comparable for arsenic speciation in environmental samples.
- The applied methods are robust and reliable, unaffected by sample matrix complexities.
- These techniques provide accurate arsenic speciation data for environmental monitoring and risk assessment.
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