On-line reversed-phase liquid chromatography hydride generation emission spectrometry: speciation of arsenic in urine of patients intravenously treated with As2O3

Hydride generation inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (HG ICP-AES) was used as a continuous detection system for the determinatio n of arsenic in the eluate from a high-performance liquid chromatographic ( HPLC) system. Four arsenic species [arsenite As(III), arsenate As(V), monom ethylarsonate (MMA), and dimethylarsinate (DMA)] present in the urine sampl es of patients treated intravenously with arsenite, were analyzed separatel y by HPLC-HG-ICP-AES using a non-polar C-18 column. This analytical method allowed the sensitive determination of the arsenic species in the submicrog ram per liter range. Urine samples collected on different days after arseni te administration were found to contain arsenite predominantly - monomethyl arsonate and dimethylarsinate were also detected. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.