Development of a method for the direct determination of arsenate in honey by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a fast method for determination of arsenate in samples of honey. The variables studied in the optimization of the method were NaBH₄ concentration, pre-reducing agent, HCl concentration, the diluent type and contact time with the sample. The optimized conditions were 50 g L⁻¹ of sample prepared in 1.3 mol L⁻¹ HCl and 10 g L⁻¹ SC(NH₂)₂. The hydride generation solutions were 8.5 g L⁻¹ NaBH₄ and 2.5 mol L⁻¹ HCl. The limit of detection (LOD) was 20 ng g⁻¹. The validated method was used to quantify arsenate in 27 samples of honey collected from different cities of Minas Gerais state, Brazil. All samples showed arsenate concentrations below the LOD.