On-site quantitation of arsenic in drinking water by disk solid-phase extraction/mobile X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.

ABSTRACT

A rapid and simple method was developed for As determination in drinking water by solid-phase extraction (SPE)/mobile X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. A 50 mL aqueous sample was adjusted to pH 3 with dilute hydrochloric acid, and then passed through a Ti and Zr-loaded carbon disk (TiZr-CD) to pre-concentrate the As. The SPE disk was adhered to an acrylic plate with cellophane tape, and then examined by mobile XRF spectrometry. The TiZr-CD adsorbed inorganic As (as As(III) and As(V)) and organic As (as methyl, phenyl and aromatic arsenic compounds) from water. The As calibration curve had good linearity over the range of 0.5-5 µg, and the limit of detection was 0.10 µg (2.0 µgL(-1) in As concentration). The concentrations of As in well water samples were determined using the proposed method were similar to results obtained from atomic absorption spectrometry. The proposed method did not require a power supply or a toxic solution and/or gas in any analytical step, therefore it is suitable for the on-site determination of As in drinking water.