Abstract: In this study, electro-membrane extraction was used as a highly efficient sample pre-treatment method for the UV-VIS spectrophotometric determination of arsenic (As) in food samples. The influences of experimental parameters were investigated and optimized as follows: organic solvent, 1-octanol containing 2.5% (V/V) disononyl phthalate; applied voltage, 70 V; extraction time, 15 min; pH of acceptor, 13, and stirring rate, 700 r/min. The limit of detection (LOD) of this method was 1.5 μg/L. Average recovery rates for different matrices spiked with As were 96%–104%. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD), was 0.1%–3.6%. The method presented in this study exhibited a good selectivity, low cost and simplicity and was applicable to total As in food samples.

Key words: electromembrane extraction, UV-VIS spectrophotometric, molybdenum blue complex, food, arsenic