skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Simultaneous determination of arsenite, arsenate, selenite, and selenate by suppressed ion chromatography

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States)
;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Idaho, Moscow (United States)

Direct, simultaneous measurement of As and Se ionic species in soil solution was achieved using a commercially available suppressed ion chromatography system and a NA{sub 2}CO{sub 3}-NaHCO{sub 3} eluant. Electrochemical and conductivity detectors were used in series with dual-channel integrator to quantify arsenite, arsenate, selenite, and selenate. Resolution of the As and Se ionic species from the other ions depended on the nature of the eluant. An eluant containing 2 mM Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3} and 1.7 mM NaHCO{sub 3} provided a good compromise between analyte resolution and time of analysis. Concentrations of 1 mg L{sup {minus}1} each of arsenite, arsenate, selenite, and selenate were measured in the presence of 50 mg L{sup {minus}1} each of F, Cl, NO{sub 3} {minus} N, So{sub 4} {minus} S, and PO{sub 4}-P. Detection limits ranged from 0.016 mg L{sup {minus}1} for selenite to 0.120 mg L{sup {minus}1} for arsenate. The detection limits for arsenate and selenite obtained using this suppressed ion chromatographic technique were lower than values reported in the literature using nonsuppressed ion chromatography. Precision of analysis decreased with decreasing analyte concentration. The ion chromatographic method was compared to spectroscopic methods using analyses of soil solution, receiving As and Se spikes, and analyses of adsorption equilibrium solutions.

DOE Contract Number:
AM06-70RL02225
OSTI ID:
5405362
Journal Information:
Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States), Vol. 21:1; ISSN 0047-2425
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English