Publication Date

Fall 2012

Document Type

Project Summary

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Analytical Chemistry

First Advisor

Karen D'Arcy, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Stephen Kent, M.B.A.

Third Advisor

Timothy Gsell, Ph.D.

Abstract

Arsenic is the 20th abundant element in the earth crust. High concentrations of Arsenic is seen in mine operating countries which can affect public health and biological environment. This may reach to drinking water through ground or surface run-off water. Long term exposure to arsenic causes cancer of bladder, skin, and lungs. So detecting the amount of arsenic in soil and drinking has been an analytical challenge. Arsenic is found in variety of chemical forms in organic and inorganic compounds which results in chemical and physical interferences in the analysis. Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (GFAAS) was used to measure Arsenic in environment samples from Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The best result for analysis that the standard calibration curve fit to be (R2 = 0.996983). A calibration curve is plotted by taking concentration in the range of 0-100 ppb on x-axis and absorbance on y- axis. The Arsenic concentration in the tested samples range from 3.13 to 0.39 µg As/g sample. The values obtained after GFAAS analysis for Estuarine sediment sample is 2.16 µg As/g compared to standard NIST value 6.23 mg/kg [13]. The value obtained for Domestic sludge is 1.87 µg As/g sample compared to standard NIST value 7.82 mg/kg.

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