Eggshell membrane-based solid-phase extraction combined with hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry for...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Eggshell membrane (ESM) possesses surface functional groups (amines, amides, carboxylic) suitable for adsorption.
• Arsenic contamination in water poses significant environmental and health risks.
• Efficient preconcentration methods are crucial for detecting trace levels of arsenic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the potential of ESM as a solid-phase extraction (SPE) adsorbent for trace arsenic(V).
• To develop and optimize an SPE method using ESM for arsenic(V) analysis in environmental water.
• To combine the developed SPE method with hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS) for sensitive arsenic detection.

Main Methods:

• Systematic optimization of SPE parameters: pH, flow rate, sample volume, ESM amount, and NaCl concentration.
• Investigation of the effects of co-existing ions on arsenic(V) adsorption.
• Utilizing ESM packed cartridges for arsenic(V) extraction.
• Analysis of arsenic(V) using hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS).

Main Results:

• Optimized conditions yielded satisfactory recovery of arsenic(V).
• Breakthrough adsorption capacity of ESM for arsenic(V) was 3.9 µg g⁻¹.
• Achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.001 µg L⁻¹ with an enrichment factor of 33.3.
• Relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) were 2.1% for 0.6 µg L⁻¹ arsenic, and R.S.D. among columns was <5%.

Conclusions:

• ESM is a viable and effective biomaterial for SPE preconcentration of trace arsenic(V).
• The proposed ESM-based SPE-HG-AFS method is suitable for analyzing arsenic(V) in real environmental water samples.
• ESM offers a promising, low-cost alternative for arsenic(V) pretreatment and enrichment.