Determination of antimony (III) and (V) by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry

Re-evaluation of DPASV procedures for determining low levels of Sb (III) and Sb (V) in solution identified several problem areas, e.g. anomalous ASV behaviour, possible formation of an intermediate valency state during the analytical cycle, and chemical interactions in acidified test solutions containing both valency states. Specific determination of Sb (III) can be achieved using base solutions composed of 0.2M HCl (detection limit 10 nM) or acetic acid/acetate buffer (detection limit 600 nM). For the determination of Sb (V), analysis in 2M HCl is recommended [with response in 0.2M HCl being used to correct for any Sb (III) present].