Detection of inorganic arsenic in water with atomic fluorescence spectrometry and atomic absorption spectrometry:a comparison analysis

  Objective  To compare detection results of inorganic arsenic (iAs) in the water samples with low-pressure high performance liquid chromatography-hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HPLC-HG-AFS) and hydride generation-cold trap-atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-cold trap-AAS) and to analyze the applicability of atomic fluorescence spectrometry in iAs detection in water samples.

  Methods  The accuracy, precision, detection limit, linear range, and other indicators of the two detection methods were analyzed statistically using SPSS 19.0.

  Results  The linear correlation coefficients of the AFS and AAS were all greater than 0.99. The linear range of AFS detection was much wider than that of AAS; while no significant difference was observed in detection limit between the two methods. The precision of the two detection methods was less than 10 %. The recovery rates of the two detection methods for same samples were not significantly different (t = – 1.034, P = 0.336).

  Conclusion  Low-pressure HPLC-HG-AFS could be used in effective detection of iAs of various valences due to its wider detection linear range compared to HG-cold trap-AAS; no other significant differences between the two methods exist for the detection of iAs in water samples.