Optimization and use of flow injection vapour generation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the determination of arsenic, antimony and mercury in water and sea-water at ultratrace levels

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Abstract
Vapour generation flow injection inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (FI-ICP-MS) was used for the determination of As, Sb and Hg in four international water reference materials (National Research Council of Canada). A commercially available FI device was easily connected to the ICP-MS system. Flow injection parameters such as sample volume, purge gas flow rate and concentration of reductant were investigated and optimized (univariate) as were different sample pre-reduction techniques. The precision and accuracy of the results obtained show the applicability of this method to the determination of vapour-forming elements at ultratrace levels in environmental samples. Detection limits are in the range 0.5–7 ng l–1 for Bi, Sb, 82Se, Te, Hg and As (with pre-reduction).