Arsenic absorption

Minimal data are available from typical inhalation studies in laboratory animals to allow evaluation of extent or dose-dependency in inhaled arsenic absorption. Beck, Slayton and Farr (2002) reported a study in which rabbits were exposed to 0.05, 0.1, 0.22, or 1.1 mg m-3 of arsenic trioxide 8 hours/day, seven days/week for eight weeks. The particle size (mass median aerodynamic diameter, MMAD) ranged from 3.2 to 4.1pm. On the basis of minimal elevation of inorganic arsenic in plasma until exposure levels were at or above 0.22 mg m-3, the authors concluded that systemic uptake of arsenic trioxide following inhalation exposure was low and did not contribute significantly to body burden until relatively high levels of exposure were achieved. 

Ackerman, A.H., Creed, P.A., Parks, A.N., Fricke, M.W., Schwegel, C.A., Creed, J.T., Heitkemper, D.T., Vela, N.P. Comparison of a chemical and enzymatic extraction of arsenic from rice and an assessment of the arsenic absorption from contaminated water by cooked rice. Environ. Sci. Technol. 39, 5241-5246 (2005)... 

Figure 8,27 Time-integrated reference spectra of sodium chloride (50 pg NaCl) and PO (20 pg NH4H2PO4) in the vicinity of the arsenic absorption line at 193.696 nm (dashed line)...

As shown in Table 2.4, atomic absorption is extremely sensitive. It is particularly suited to the analyses of arsenic and lead in gasolines, for sodium in fuel oils (where it is the only reliable method) and for mercury in gas condensates. 

Trace contaminants in the phosphoms may be deterrnined by oxidation of the phosphoms by various techniques. The metals are then deterrnined by an inductively coupled plasma spectrophotometer or by atomic absorption. The most important trace metal is arsenic, which must be reduced in concentration for food-grade products. Numerous other trace metals have become important in recent years owing to the specifications for electronic-grade phosphoric acid requited by the semiconductor industry (see Electronic materials Semiconductors). Some trace elements must be reduced to the low ppb range in phosphoric acid to comply. 

Tests for elements such as arsenic, lead, and copper are specified in the relevant standards. The methods specified are usually of the colorimetric or atomic absorption types. 

Atomic absorption spectroscopy is an alternative to the colorimetric method. Arsine is stiU generated but is purged into a heated open-end tube furnace or an argon—hydrogen flame for atomi2ation of the arsenic and measurement. Arsenic can also be measured by direct sample injection into the graphite furnace. The detection limit with the air—acetylene flame is too high to be useful for most water analysis. 

Three commercial processes that use these various hot carbonate flow arrangements are the promoted Benfield process, the Catacarb process, and the Giammarco-Vetrocoke process (26—29). Each uses an additive described as a promoter, activator, or catalyst, which increases the rates of absorption and desorption, improves removal efficiency, and reduces the energy requirement. The processes also use corrosion inhibitors, which aHow use of carbon—steel equipment. The Benfield and Catacarb processes do not specify additives. Vetrocoke uses boric acid, glycine, or arsenic trioxide, which is the most effective. 

FLOW INJECTION ELECTROCHEMICAL HYDRIDE GENERATION ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY EOR THE DETERMINATION OE ARSENIC... 

A flow-injection system with electrochemical hydride generation and atomic absorption detection for the determination of arsenic is described. This technique has been developed in order to avoid the use sodium tetrahydroborate, which is capable of introducing contamination. The sodium tetrahydroborate (NaBH ) - acid reduction technique has been widely used for hydride generation (HG) in atomic spectrometric analyses. However, this technique has certain disadvantages. The NaBH is capable of introducing contamination, is expensive and the aqueous solution is unstable and has to be prepared freshly each working day. In addition, the process is sensitive to interferences from coexisting ions. 

Molybdenum blue method. When arsenic, as arsenate, is treated with ammonium molybdate solution and the resulting heteropolymolybdoarsenate (arseno-molybdate) is reduced with hydrazinium sulphate or with tin(II) chloride, a blue soluble complex molybdenum blue is formed. The constitution is uncertain, but it is evident that the molybdenum is present in a lower oxidation state. The stable blue colour has a maximum absorption at about 840 nm and shows no appreciable change in 24 hours. Various techniques for carrying out the determination are available, but only one can be given here. Phosphate reacts in the same manner as arsenate (and with about the same sensitivity) and must be absent. 

Start the vapour generator cycle so that the absorption cell is flushed with argon gas and the pre-set volume of NaBH4 (1 mL) is pumped into the sample vessel. After the pre-selected reaction time (0.5 minute), AsH3 vapour is flushed into the absorption tube. Record the value of each arsenic signal as a peak height measurement. Read off the arsenic concentration of the sample, which is displayed on the instrument video screen. 

Fig. 3.2.3 Absorption spectra of the fluorescent compound F in 50% ethanol (solid line) and the protein P in 20 mM sodium arsenate, pH 6.5, containing 0.5 M KC1 (dashed line). Both F and P were obtained from Meganyctiphanes norvegica. From Shimomura, 1995a, with permission from John Wiley Sons Ltd.

Fig. 7-6. Enhancement of the intensity of germanium radiation relative to arsenic radiation by selenium. The ordinate in this figure is, for the upper curve, the normalized Ge-As intensity ratio and, for the lower curves, the normalized absolute intensity. The abscissa is the composition of the diluent added to the base material. The relation of analytical lines and absorption edges is shown in IV, Fig. 7-5. Open circles = GeKar/AsKa closed circles = Ge crosses = As. (Courtesy of Adler and Axelrod, Spectrochim. Acta, 7, 91.)...

Danckwerts et al. (D6, R4, R5) recently used the absorption of COz in carbonate-bicarbonate buffer solutions containing arsenate as a catalyst in the study of absorption in packed column. The C02 undergoes a pseudo first-order reaction and the reaction rate constant is well defined. Consequently this reaction could prove to be a useful method for determining mass-transfer rates and evaluating the reliability of analytical approaches proposed for the prediction of mass transfer with simultaneous chemical reaction in gas-liquid dispersions. 

MDHS41 Arsenic and inorganic compounds of arsenic in air (atomic absorption spectrometry). 

Zhang X, Cornelis R, De Kimpe J, and Mees L (1996) Arsenic speciation in serum of uraemic patients based on liquid chromatography with hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry and on-line UV photo-oxidation digestion. Anal Chim Acta 319 177-185. 

Munoz O, Velez D, Montoro R (1999) Optimization of the solubilization, extraction and determination of inorganic arsenic [As(III) i- As(V)] in seafood products by acid digestion, solvent extraction and hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry. Analyst 124 601-607. 

Limited information was located regarding dermal absorption of inorganic lead in animals. An early study reported that lead acetate was absorbed from the clipped skin of rats, as determined by an increase in the concentration of lead in the kidneys relative to controls (Laug and Kunze 1948). It was further shown in that study that mechanical injury to the skin significantly increased the penetration of lead and that the penetration of lead from lead arsenate was significantly less than from lead acetate. 

---