Application of ICP-MS to arsenic determination in solid samples containingsilica

Different sorbents mixed with sand are being tested for the retention of ar senic compounds in flue gases from coal combustion and gasification process es. In order to control the efficiency and the retention capacities of thes e sorbents and to evaluate the likely emissions into the environment, the d etermination of arsenic content must be carried out after the sorption. In this work, a methodology was developed for sample preparation and arsenic d etermination in samples with high levels of silica. The samples were kaolin ite, limestone, coal fly ashes, alumina and metal oxide mixtures of iron, z inc and titanium, which were mixed with sand in the proportion 1+3, sorbent +sand. A microwave oven digestion procedure was developed for rapid dissolu tion of the samples, and arsenic in solution was determined by ICP-MS using standard additions. The proposed method was compared with the hydride gene ration AAS method and tested on a standard reference material, with reprodu cible and accurate results.