Lower limits of detection in speciation analysis by coupling high-performance liquid chromatography and chemical-vapor generation

Speciation studies are much more important than total element determination because toxicity of many elements depends on their chemical forms. Nobody can claim that a foodstuff is very dangerous to eat by determining total arsenic due to the possibility that the arsenic could be present in non-toxic forms. Hence, speciation studies are crucial in any matrix relevant to human beings. Trace-element speciation requires sufficiently sensitive procedures to monitor each species at trace levels. One way to increase the sensitivity for elements forming volatile species is coupling high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with chemical-vapor generation (CVG). This review aims to highlight not only development of HPLC-CVG techniques for ultratrace-elemental speciation in a variety of matrices but also their application. In addition, we discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of these techniques. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.