Comparison of hydride generation and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of arsenic in food

Hydride generation (HG) and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy for determination of arsenic in various foodstuffs are compared. Two methods of sample pre-treatment, wet ashing and pressurized decomposition in an autoclave, are discussed in detail. It is shown that, for the determination of arsenic in foodstuffs, the HG technique is preferable. The relative standard deviation for arsenic determined by the HG technique does not exceed 15.4% for three parallel weighed samples with an arsenic content of 1.0 mg kg(-1). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.