Simultaneous determination of arsenic, selenium and antimony in water by an inductively coupled plasma hydride method

Arsenic, selenium and antimony were determined using on-line hydride generation in conjunction with a simultaneous medium power inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometer with conventional pneumatic nebulization. The sample, acidified with 3 mol/l hydrochloric acid was mixed with 1% (m/v) sodium tetrahydroborate and 5% (m/v) potassium iodide, the mixed stream being pumped to the nebulizer of the ICP spectrometer. Calibration curves were linear up to 1 mg/l analyte, with detection limits of 2; 3 and 3 μg/l for arsenic, antimony and selenium, respectively, for 10 s integration times and a sample uptake rate of 2.15 ml/min.