Evaluating the accumulation of arsenic in maize (Zea mays L.) plants from its growing media by cloud point extraction

A cloud point extraction has been developed for the determination of As in maize (Zea mays L.) and adjoining agriculture soil. The different parts of maize (grains, shoots and roots) and soil were subjected to microwave assisted digestion in a mixture of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide (2:1 ratio). The trace amounts of As was pre-concentrated by cloud point extraction, as prior step to its determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The main factors affecting cloud point extraction efficiency, such as pH of sample solution, concentration of ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate and Triton X-114, equilibration temperature and time period for shaking were investigated in detail. For validation of proposed method a certified reference material of whole meal flour BCR 189 was used. No significant difference p > 0.05 was observed between the experimental results and the certified values of CRM (paired t-test). The translocation of total As in different parts of maize were found in the order of, Root > Shoot > Grain.