Analytical Sciences


Abstract − Analytical Sciences, 33(7), 859 (2017).

On-site Determination of Trace Arsenic by Reflection-Absorption Colorimetry of Molybdenum Blue Collected on a Membrane Filter
Yuya HASEGAWA,*,** Yasutada SUZUKI,*** and Susumu KAWAKUBO**
*Yamanashi Institute of Public Health and Environment, 1-7-31 Fujimi, Kofu 400-0027, Japan
**Graduate School, Faculty of Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Takeda, Kofu 400-8511, Japan
***Graduate School, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Takeda, Kofu 400-8510, Japan
An on-site determination method for trace arsenic has been developed by collecting it as molybdenum blue (MB) in the presence of tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride on a mixed cellulose ester membrane filter and by measuring reflection absorbance (RA) of MB on the filter using a laboratory-made palm-top size reflection-absorbance colorimeter with a red light-emitting diode. The value of RA was proportional to the amount of arsenic up to 0.5 μg with a detection limit of 0.01 μg. The proposed method was successfully applied to soil extract and hot-spring water samples.