3D printed microplasma optical emission spectrometry coupled with ZIF-8 based dispersive solid-phase extraction for field analysis of waterborne arsenic

• Published in: Analytica chimica acta 2024-11, Vol.1330, p.343270, Article 343270
• Main Authors: Yang, Jiahui, Lin, Yao, Wang, Xi, Li, Yuanyuan, Deng, Yurong, Zheng, Chengbin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D printing; Dispersive solid-phase extraction; Field analysis; Microplasma optical emission spectrometry; Point discharge; waterborne arsenic
• ISSN: 0003-2670; 1873-4324; 1873-4324
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2024.343270

Arsenic contamination of drinking water has become a public health challenge over the world, particularly in Bangladesh, India, and China. Compared to the most used field test kits of waterborne arsenic, miniature microplasma atomic spectrometry retains advantages of accuracy, elemental specificity, and less matrix interference. Despite increased interest in arsenic detection by using miniature microplasma spectrometry, the improvements of its analytical performance, manufacturing cost and consistency still remain significant challenges. Herein, a miniature, battery-operated, and integrated hydride generation point discharge optical emission spectrometer (HG-μPD-OES, 116 mm length × 92 mm width × 104 mm height) was printed with a simple 3D printer and used for the highly sensitive and element-specific determination of arsenic by coupling to a dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) using zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 as adsorbent. The d-SPE simplifies sample treatment, significantly alleviates the interference arising from transition metal ions and improves sensitivity. A LOD of 0.07 μg L−1 for arsenic was obtained with relative standard deviations (RSDs, n = 11) better than 3.8 %. The 3D printing technique significantly improves the manufacturing cost and fabricating consistency of HG-μPD-OES. LOD were remarkably improved 27-fold compared to those obtained by conventional HG-μPD-OES, providing a promising method for the reliable, sensitive, and convenient field analysis of waterborne arsenic even its concentration as low as 0.2 μg L−1. The practicability and accuracy of the proposed method have been successfully verified via the field analysis of waterborne arsenic in a Certified Reference Material (GBW(E)080390) and a series of river and lake water samples. [Display omitted] •A battery-operated, compact, and integrated 3D printed point discharge optical emission spectrometer was developed.•Low LOD values of 0.07 μg L−1 were recorded in the range of 0.2–20 μg L−1 by the ZIF-8-d-SPE combined with HG-μPD-OES.•Sensitivities of 3D printed HG-μPD-OES system were improved by about 27 fold.•Reliable, sensitive, and convenient field analysis of waterborne inorganic arsenic was obtained.