Determination of As and Sb in mineral waters by fast sequential continuous flow hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry

Author(s)

Bueno Guerra, Marcelo Braga ^[1] ; Carapelli, Rodolfo ^{[1, 2]} ; Miranda, Kelber ^[1] ; Araujo Nogueira, Ana Rita ^[2] ; Pereira-Filho, Edenir Rodrigues ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Ctr Ciencias Exatas & Tecnol, Dept Quim, Grp Anal Instrumental Aplicada, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Embrapa Pecuaria Sudeste, Rodovia Washington Luiz, BR-13560970 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ANALYTICAL METHODS; v. 3, n. 3, p. 599-605, MAR 2011.
• Web of Science Citations: 12

Abstract

In this study, a novel analytical method which consists of a combination of Fast Sequential Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FS-FAAS) and Continuous Flow Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (CF-HGAAS) is proposed. The method developed was employed for the sequential determination of As and Sb at sub-mu g L(-1) levels in bottled mineral waters. A strong enhancement in the analytical throughput was obtained when compared with the traditional mono-element CF-HGAAS with a quartz tube atomizer (QTA). Variables which would affect the method performance such as Ar flow rate, HCl and NaBH(4) concentrations as well as delay and integration time were optimized. A flame atomic absorption spectrometer working in fast sequential mode was used in all experiments. After just 20 s of read delay, As and Sb were sequentially determined in 6 s (3 s each element). A 2(6-2) fractional factorial design was employed for studies of potential interferents with transition metals that could be present in mineral water samples. Limits of detection obtained for As and Sb were 0.15 and 0.14 mu g L(-1), respectively. The accuracy of the proposed method was checked by the use of 2 certified reference materials: Trace elements in water (NIST 1643e) and Trace metals in drinking water (HPS TMDW). Good agreement between certified and found concentrations was observed. Finally, As and Sb were determined in commercial bottled mineral water samples. Adequate sensitivity, high throughput and minimization of reagents and sample consumption are the attractive features of this new method. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/04515-4 - Combination of atomic absorption spectrometry with sequential determination and thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry
• Grantee: Edenir Rodrigues Pereira Filho
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 06/59083-9 - Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: fundamentals and applications
• Grantee: Joaquim de Araújo Nóbrega
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 09/01447-3 - Use of calibration strategies for fast sequential multi-element determination of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in biological and food samples using thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry
• Grantee: Kelber dos Anjos de Miranda
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 08/08260-3 - Chemical analyses of environmental samples from Antartica: spectrometric determination of Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb, use of micro X-Ray fluorescence with synchrotron radiation and application of chemometric tools
• Grantee: Marcelo Braga Bueno Guerra
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)