Optimization of a methodology for speciation of arsenic, selenium and mercury in blood samples based on the deep eutectic solvent

In this research, a new liquid phase microextraction based on the solidification of deep eutectic solvent (LPME–SDES) has been developed for the speciation of As(III), As(V), Se(IV), Se(VI), Hg(II) and organic mercury (R-Hg) in the blood of children prior to their analysis by iridium-modified tube electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). • In this method, a green solvent consisting of Choline chloride and decanoic acid in the molar ratio of 1:2 was used as a green hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent for the extraction of complexed ions from real blood samples. • The DESs replace the toxic organic solvents apply for extraction and could be synthesize from cheap accessible chemicals. • Under the optimum conditions, the calibration graphs for As, Se and Hg were linear in the rage of 0.15–40, 0.05–5.0 and 0.30–60 μg l(−1), respectively and, the detection limit of As, Se and Hg were 0.05, 0.015 and 0.10 μg l(−1), respectively.