Hydride generation-flame atomic-absorption spectrometry as an arsenic detector for high-performance liquid...

Hydride generation-flame atomic-absorption spectrometry (HG-FAAS) was used as a continuous detection system for arsenic in the eluate from high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Four arsenic species (arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonate and dimethylarsinate) were detected separately with the HPLC-HG-FAAS system equipped with an anion-exchange column. When hijiki (Hizikia fusiforme) extract was examined, arsenate was found predominantly and arsenite and dimethylarsinate were also detected. Liver supernatant fraction obtained from mice administered orally with arsenite was also studied with the HPLC-HG-FAAS system equipped with a gel permeation column. In addition to free or low-molecular-weight ligand-bound arsenic, high-molecular-weight protein-bound arsenic fractions were also detected.