Hydride generation atomic absorption determination of arsenic in marine sediments, tissues and sea water with in situ concentration in a graphite furnace

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Abstract
Methods are described for the determination of total As in sea water and in marine tissues and sediments based on the generation of AsH3 using NaBH4 with its subsequent trapping in a graphite furnace at 600 °C. Calibration is achieved with a simple aqueous calibration graph having a sensitivity of 0.18 ± 0.03 A ng–1 and yields an absolute detection limit of 40 pg. Sample volumes of 10–500 µl produce total method concentration detection limits (3σ blank) of 60 pg g–1 in sea water, 0.2 µg g–1 in sediments and 0.15 µg g–1 in tissues. Corresponding precisions of 2–3% are typical for analyses of these samples. Results are reported for the determination of As in a suite of marine reference materials.