title: Arsine evolution-electrothermal atomic absorption method for the determination of nanogram levels of total arsenic in urine and water.
abstract: An arsine evolution-electrothermal atomic absorption method is described for the determination of ng/mL concentrations of total arsenic in urine and water. Organic-arsenic compounds are decomposed with nitric, sulfuric, and perchloric acids. Sodium borohydride, a redesigned hydride generator, and an electric-heated absorption tube are used for arsine evolution and its conversion to atomic arsenic. The method has a detection limit of 6 ng/mL, a sensitivity of 1 ng/mL, and is linear from 0 to 110 ng/mL of arsenic. Accuracy was established with two different National Bureau of Standards Standard Reference materials, and mean errors from 0 to -2 were obtained.
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D001152:Arsenicals; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000379:methods*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D014867:Water; D001151:Arsenic; C006633:arsine