| Abstract: | Systems for the determination of trace element compounds consisting of liquid chromatographs (LC) (high pressure liquid chromatographs, ion chromatographs) and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometers (GFAAS) or inductively coupled argon plasma emission spectrometers (ICP) as single- or multi-element-specific detectors are described. The applications of these systems to the determination of arsenic compounds are reviewed. The absolute detection limits of these systems for arsenic are in the low nanogram range. These detection limits can probably be improved by two-three orders of magnitude by coupling an inductively coupled argon plasma-mass spectrometer instrument to the liquid chromatograph. The advantages and drawbacks of the LC-GFAAS and LC-ICP systems are outlined. These systems can separate and identify trace element compounds that are kinetically or thermodynamically stable under the conditions of the chromatography. Labile compounds cannot be determined by these systems. Wide application of these systems to problems of trace element research will lead to the identification of hitherto unknown trace element compounds, to a better understanding of the nutritional and toxic properties of trace element compounds, and to a better definition of trace element cycles. |
