Characterization of Arsenic by High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry of Algal Extracts and Water in Evaporation Ponds

Arsenic is a toxic element and its effects on humans, animals and other organisms are well documented. A method to accurately determine the concentration as well as the speciation of arsenic in highly complex evaporation pond water and algae will be discussed. Interestingly, microorganisms are thriving in evaporation ponds that have high levels of arsenic, which is unusual for their survival. This study shows nine different arsenic species including the most common: AsB, As(III), MMA, DMA, As(V), and four different arsenosugars. This research determined that there were 99 ± 120 µg of As per mL in the water samples, which mostly consisted of As(III) and As(V). The algae samples had a total concentration of 522 ± 179 µg of As per mL, and consisted of As(III), As(V), AsB, arsenosugar 1 (291 ± 289 µg of As per mL) and arsenosugar 2 (9.62 ± 39.6 µg of As per mL). The ultimate goal of this ongoing project was to determine if algae from these evaporation ponds may effect oxidation of the most toxic As(III) to the less toxic As(V). If so, these detoxifying algae may have important ecotoxicity and environmental health implications.

Name thesis:degree_name

MS

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Arts and Sciences: Chemistry

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Cincinnati

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Medley, Christopher M., M.S.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Caruso, Joseph

• Agricultural Chemicals
• Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry
• Arsenic
• Algae
• High Performance Liquid Chromatography
• Arsenic Speciation
• Water

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1353087601

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:ucin1353087601