Determination of a method for analysis of p-arsanlic acid

CHED 289

Reneé N Kepler, Department of Chemistry, Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45207
Both agriculturally and industrially, arsenic containing compounds have become widely used. In particular, p-arsanilic acid has been used as a growth promoter for chicken and swine feed; as such it is a potential hazard for workers in feed packaging factories. Some methods for determining p-arsanilic acid include a UV-Vis method that analyzes the compound in the feed and another that analyzes surface water samples for the compound. Neither of these methods is conducive for analyzing air samples containing p-arsanilic acid. Based on previous work in the author's laboratory on roxarsone, another organo-arsenic compound, a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) method that was a modification of work done A.R. Roderdink and J.H. Aldstadt ( J. Chromatogr. A 1057 (2004) 177) should offer appropriate detection limits and accurate identification of the compound. Current research shows that p-arsanilic acid in methanol solutions can be detected over a range of concentrations from 0.00152 – 0.6094 g/liter. It is proposed that polyvinyl chloride filters should be a proper sampler for collection of the compound in a workplace environment. Recovery and storage studies of the compound using these filters will be tested against the guidelines established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for an analytical method.