Preparation of biological tissue for determination of arsenic and selenium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Journal Article · Wed Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 1987 · Anal. Chem.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00141a034· OSTI ID:6426158

Krynitsky, A J

A great deal of interest has been generated in the measurement of selenium in biological tissue. Consequently, a method was needed for the digestion of large numbers of tissue samples (mainly eggs and liver of avian species) for arsenic and selenium analysis. Several wet digestion methods are described for the solubilizing of biological tissues and perchloric acid is often used in these procedures. However, this acid can be dangerous and particularly so in the presence of organic material. To avoid the use of perchloric acid, the authors have used an open flask digestion method which involves the careful evaporation of a 20-mL nitric acid/tissue solution down to 3 mL, directly on a hot plate. The authors have overcome many of the shortcomings of this method through a modification of the nitric acid digestion method in which hydrogen peroxide is added during the digestion process to enhance the solubilizing of the biological tissue. Samples solubilized in this manner were then quantified directly for arsenic and/or selenium by using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) with Zeeman background correction. The authors were able to have the method for selenium independently verified by stable isotope dilution mass spectrometry (SIDMS). The lower limit of detection, based on a 0.5-g subsample (wet weight) and a 25-mL final volume dilution, was 0.10 pp for both arsenic and selenium. The lower limit of detection, based on a 0.25-g subsample (dry weight) and a 50-mL final volume dilution, was 0.40 ppm for the two elements.

• Research Organization: Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, MD
• OSTI ID: 6426158
• Journal Information: Anal. Chem.; (United States), Vol. 59:14
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL TISSUES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DIGESTION
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ARSENIC
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
NITRIC ACID
SELENIUM
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
SAMPLE PREPARATION
TRACE AMOUNTS
BODY
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DATA
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INORGANIC ACIDS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEROXIDES
SEMIMETALS
SPECTROSCOPY
TISSUES
400102* - Chemical & Spectral Procedures
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology