On-line determination of antimony(III) and antimony(V) in liver tissue and whole blood by flow injection - hydride generation - atomic absorption spectrometry

A new analytical procedure for the speciation of antimony in liver tissues is presented here. For this purpose, a flow injection system has been developed for the treatment of samples and the determination of antimony by hydride generation - atomic absorption spectrometry. The method involves the sequential and the on-line extraction of antimony(III) and antimony(V) from solid lyophilized blood and hamsters liver tissues, with 1.5 mol l(-1) acetic acid and 0.5 mol l(-1) sulfuric acid for Sb(III) and Sb(V), respectively. Reduction of Sb(V) to Sb(III) for stibine generation is effected by the on-line pre-reduction with l-cysteine. The linear ranges were 2.5-20 and 1.0-25 mug l(-1) of Sb(III) and Sb(V), respectively. The detection limits (3sigma) were 1.0 mug l(-1) for Sb(III) and 0.5 mug l(-1) for Sb(V). The relative standard deviation values for fifteen independent measurements were 2.1 and 1.8% for Sb(III) and Sb(V), respectively. The recovery studies performed with samples of cattle liver provided results from 98 to 100% for Sb(III) and from 100 to 103% for Sb(V) for samples spiked with single species. For samples spiked with both Sb(III) and Sb(V), the recovery varied from 97 to 103% for Sb(III) and from 101 to 103% for Sb(V).     

Determination of antimony(III) in environmental water samples in microemulsion system by the fluorescence quenching method

A novel highly sensitive and selective fluorescent reagent, 2,6,7-trihydroxy-9-(3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorone (DBH-PF) has been studied for the spectrofluorimetic determination of antimony(III) in cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB) microemulsion media. DBH-PF reacts with antimony(III) forming a complex with 1:2 (metal to ligand) antimony-DBH-PF in the system of HAc-NaAc buffer solution at pH 5.33. The maximum excitation and emission wavelengths are at 522 and 556 nm, respectively. The linear range of the method is 0.05 approximately 1.50 mug 10 ml(-1) and the detection limit is 0.015 mug 10 ml(-1). Foreign ions are eliminated by preconcentration and separation with sulfhydryl dextrose gel (SDG) at pH 1.0. The proposed method has been applied to the determination of antimony(III) in industrial waste water samples with satisfactory results.     

Separation of antimony(III) with iodide and dithizone by sorption on polyurethane foam from sulphuric acid medium for its spectrophotometric determination in glasses

A method for quantitative separation of antimony(III) by sorption on polyether based polyurethane foam and its spectrophotometric determination has been described. The method involves formation of a pink-red complex of antimony(III) with iodide (0.045M) and dithizone (2.3 x 10(-5)M) in 0.25-0.75M H(2)SO(4) medium, sorption of the complex on polyurethane foam (within 45 min) at room temperature followed by its elution with acidified acetone (acetone containing 0.008% H(2)SO(4)) and spectrophotometric measurement at 507.2 nm ( = 2.56 x 10(4) l mol cm). The method obeys Beer's law from 0.1 to 6.0 mug antimony(III). Tolerance limits of other ions are Co (100 mug), Ni (100 mug), Fe (10 mug), Cu (0.5 mug), Sn (20 mug), Zn (100 mug), As (100 mug), Mn (200 mug), Pb (50 mug), Ti (100 mug), V (50 mug), etc. Interference by iron and copper have been eliminated by treating with KOH prior to the extraction of antimony. The method has been standardized with glass samples spiked with known amounts of antimony and applied to the determination of antimony in various glasses.     

Determination of antimony content in natural water by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after collection as antimony(III)-pyrogallol complex on activated carbon

Antimony(III) was preconcentrated on activated carbon (AC) as the antimony(III)–pyrogallol complex. Prior to the preconcentration, antimony(V) was reduced to antimony(III) with potassium iodide and ascorbic acid. The antimony adsorbed on the AC was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry as an AC suspension. The method was applied to differential determination of trace amounts of antimony in natural water.     

Differential determination of antimony(III) and antimony(V) by indirect spectrophotometry with chromium(VI) and diphenylcarbazide,after reduction of antimony(V)

Antimony(III) is determined indirectly through its reaction with excess of chromium(VI), the excess being quantified with diphenylcarbazide and measurement at 540 nm. Antimony(V) is reduced to antimony(III) with sodium sulfite in hydrochloric acid solution; excess of sulfite is eliminated by boiling. The subsequent determination of antimony(III) gives the concentration of total antimony, and antimony(V) is found from the difference between the results before and after reduction. Antimony in its different oxidation states can be determined in the range 0.04–0.7 mg l^?1 within an error of about 10%.     

Selective determination of antimony(III) and antimony(V) with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate and dithizone by atomic-absorption spectrometry with a carbon-tube atomizer

The extraction behaviour of antimony(III) and antimony(V) with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate and dithizone in organic solvents has been investigated by means of frameless atomic-absorption spectrophotometry with a carbon-tube atomizer. The selective extraction of antimony(III) and differential determination of antimony(III) and antimony(V) have been developed. With ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate and methyl isobutyl ketone, when the aqueous phase/solvent volume ratio is 50 ml/10 ml and the injection volume in the carbon tube is 20 mul, the sensitivity for antimony is 0.2 ng/ml for 1% absorption. The relative standard deviations are ca. 2%. Interferences by many metal ions can be prevented by masking with EDTA. The proposed methods have been applied satisfactorily to determination of antimony(III) and antimony(V) in various types of water.     

Simple conditions for the use of ferroin indicator in cerimetric titrations of antimony(III) alone and in mixtures with arsenic(III)

The titration of antimony(III) with cerium(V) sulphate in the presence of ferroin indicator at room temperature is entirely satisfactory in media consisting of 50% ($\text{v}\text{v}$) acetic acid and 1–3 M hydrochloric acid. In the absence of acetic acid, ferroin reacts with the antimony(V) formed in the very early stages, to give a sparingly soluble red complex, which remains in suspension and resists oxidation by cerium(IV). This titration provides a rational method for sequential visual titrations of antimony(III) and arsenic(III). The composition of the ferroin-antimony(V) complex is discussed. Titrations of antimony(III) in 0.5–1 M sulphuric acid medium do not require acetic acid but need iodine monochloride catalyst.     

Heat-treated Saccharomyces cerevisiae for antimony speciation and antimony(III) preconcentration in water samples

An analytical method was developed for antimony speciation and antimony(III) preconcentration in water samples. The method is based on the selective retention of Sb(III) by modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the presence of Sb(V). Heat, caustic and solvent pretreatments of the biomass were investigated to improve the kinetics and thermodynamics of Sb(III) uptake process at room temperature. Heating for 30 min at 80 degrees C was defined as the optimal treatment. Antimony accumulation by the cells was independent of pH (5-10) and ionic strength (0.01-0.1 mol L(-1)). 140 mg of yeast and 2h of contact were necessary to ensure quantitative sequestration of Sb(III) up to 750 microg L(-1). In these conditions, Sb(V) was not retained. Sb(V) was quantified in sorption supernatant by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Sb(III) was determined after elution with 40 mmol L(-1) thioglycolic acid at pH 10. A preconcentration factor close to nine was achieved for Sb(III) when 100mL of sample was processed. After preconcentration, the detection limits for Sb(III) and Sb(V) were 2 and 5 ng L(-1), respectively, using ICP-MS, 7 and 0.9 microg L(-1) using ICP-OES. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of Sb(III) and Sb(V) in spiked river and mineral water samples. The relative standard deviations (n=3) were in the 2-5% range at the tenth microg L(-1) level and less than 10% at the lowest Sb(III) and Sb(V) tested concentration (0.1 microg L(-1)). Corrected recoveries were in all cases close to 100%.     

Microcolumn sorption of antimony(III) chelate for antimony speciation studies

Selective sorption of the Sb(III) chelate with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) on a microcolumn packed with C₁₆-bonded silica gel phase was used for the determination of Sb(III) and of total inorganic antimony after reducing Sb(V) to Sb(III) by l-cysteine. A flow injection system composed of a microcolumn connected to the tip of the autosampler was used for preconcentration. The sorbed antimony was directly eluted with ethanol into the graphite furnace and determined by AAS. The detection limit for antimony was significantly lowered to 0.007 μg l⁻¹ in comparison to 1.7 μg l⁻¹ for direct injection GFAAS. This procedure was applied for speciation determinations of inorganic antimony in tap water, snow and urine samples. For the investigation of long-term stability of antimony species a flow injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry with quartz tube atomization (FI HG QT AAS) and GFAAS were used for selective determination of Sb(III) in the presence of Sb(V) and total content of antimony, respectively. Investigations on the stability of antimony in several natural samples spiked with Sb(III) and Sb(V) indicated instability of Sb(III) in tap water and satisfactory stability of inorganic Sb species in the presence of urine matrix.     

Selective separation and differential determination of antimony(III) and antimony(V) by solvent extraction with N-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine and graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry using a matrix-modification technique

If copper is used as a matrix modifier for the determination of antimony, the ashing temperature for antimony in aqueous solution and a BPHA-CHCl(3) extract can be raised to 1300 degrees and 1100 degrees , respectively. A selective procedure for separating antimony(III) from antimony(V) by extraction with BPHA in chloroform is described, along with the conditions for preserving trace antimony in water samples. The recommended method has been applied satisfactorily to the determination of antimony(III) and antimony(V) in various types of water at sub-ng/ml levels.     

Determination of antimony in lead, zinc concentrates and other smelter products by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry after separation by n-butyl acetate extraction of the chloro-complex

An extractive atomic-absorption spectrophotometric (AAS) procedure is developed for fast and accurate determination of up to 20 mug/g antimony in lead and zinc concentrates and other smelter products. The procedure involves digestion of the sample with potassium bisulphate and sulphuric acid, addition of hydrazine to reduce all antimony to Sb(III), reoxidation to Sb(V), extraction of the chloro-complex of antimony(V) with n-butyl acetate, and AAS analysis of the organic phase for antimony.     

Speciation of antimony(III) and antimony(V) in cell extracts by anion chromatography/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

An analytical method for the separation and quantification of Sb(III) and Sb(V) using anion chromatography with ICP-MS is presented. The optimum conditions for the separation of the antimony species were established with 15 mmol/L nitric acid at pH 6 as eluent system on a PRP-X100 column. The retention times for antimony(V) and antimony(III) were 85 s and 300 s with detection limits of 0.06 microg/L and 0.29 microg/L, respectively. The proposed method was applied to cell extracts of Leishmania donovani, which were incubated with antimony(III) and antimony(V). Some metabolism seemed to occur within the cells.     

Speciation of antimony(III) and antimony(V) in cell extracts by anion chromatography/ inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

An analytical method for the separation and quantification of Sb(III) and Sb(V) using anion chromatography with ICP-MS is presented. The optimum conditions for the separation of the antimony species were established with 15 mmol/L nitric acid at pH 6 as eluent system on a PRP-X100 column. The retention times for antimony(V) and antimony(III) were 85 s and 300 s with detection limits of 0.06 μg/L and 0.29 μg/L, respectively. The proposed method was applied to cell extracts of Leishmania donovani, which were incubated with antimony(III) and antimony(V). Some metabolism seemed to occur within the cells.     

Selective determination of antimony(III) and antimony(V) in liver tissue by microwave-assisted mineralization and hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry

Antimony(III) and antimony(V) species have been selectively determined in liver tissues by optimizing the acidic conditions for the evolution of stibine using the reduction with sodium borohydride. The results show that a response for Sb(III) of 0.5 to 20 microg l(-1) was selectively obtained from samples in a 1 mol l(-1) acetic acid medium. The best response for total antimony from 1 to 20 microg l(-1) is obtained after sample treatment with a 0.5 mol l(-1) sulfuric acid and 10% w/v potassium iodide. Microwave digestion has been necessary to release quantitatively antimony species from sample slurries. The amount of Sb(V) was calculated from the difference between the value for total antimony and Sb(III) concentrations. A relative standard deviation from 2.9 to 3.1% and a detection limit of 0.15 and 0.10 microg l(-1) for Sb(III) and total Sb has been obtained. The average accuracy exceeded 95% in all cases comparing the results obtained from recovery studies, electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry and the analysis of certified reference materials.     

Determination of antimony in concentrates, ores and non-ferrous materials by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry after iron-lanthanum collection, or by the iodide method after further xanthate extraction

Methods for determining trace and moderate amounts of antimony in copper, nickel, molybdenum, lead and zinc concentrates and in ores are described. Following sample decomposition, antimony is oxidized to antimony(V) with aqua regia, then reduced to antimony(III) with sodium metabisulphite in 6M hydrochloric acid medium and separated from most of the matrix elements by co-precipitation with hydrous ferric and lanthanum oxides. Antimony (>/= 100 mug/g) can subsequently be determined by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry, at 217.6 nm after dissolution of the precipitate in 3M hydrochloric acid. Alternatively, for the determination of antimony at levels of 1 mug/g or more, the precipitate is dissolved in 5M hydrochloric acid containing stannous chloride as a reluctant for iron(III) and thiourea as a complexing agent for copper. Then tin is complexed with hydrofluoric acid, and antimony is separated from iron, tin, lead and other co-precipitated elements, including lanthanum, by chloroform extraction of its xanthate. It is then determined spectrophotometrically, at 331 or 425 nm as the iodide. Interference from co-extracted bismuth is eliminated by washing the extract with hydrochloric acid of the same acid concentration as the medium used for extraction. Interference from co-extracted molybdenum, which causes high results at 331 nm, is avoided by measuring the absorbance at 425 nm. The proposed methods are also applicable to high-purity copper metal and copper- and lead-base alloys. In the spectrophotometric iodide method, the importance of the preliminary oxidation of all of the antimony to antimony(V), to avoid the formation of an unreactive species, is shown.     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Antimony (III) By Solvent Extraction with Mandelic Acid and Malachite Green

Abstract

A sensitive and selective method has been developed for the spectrophotometric determination of antimony in the tervalent oxidation state. It was found that antimony (III) reacts with mandelic acid to form a complex anion extractable into chlorobenzene with malachite green in weak acidic media (pH 2.2 to 3.5) at room temperature and is determined indirectly by measuring the absorbance of malachite green in the extract at 628 nm. The calibration graph is linear for antimony (III) over the range 0.088–1.8 mg 1^?1 (7.2 × 10^?7–1.5 × 10^?5 mol 1^?1) with the apparent molar absorptivity ε × 6.9 × 10⁴ 1 mol^?1 cm^?1. Antimony (V) was slightly extracted in the presence of phosphate buffer with ε × 2.7 × 10³ 1 mol^?1 cm^?1.     

Determination of arsenic and antimony in electrolytic copper by anodic stripping voltammetry at a gold film electrode

A simple procedure is described for the determination of arsenic and antimony in electrolytic copper. The copper is digested with nitric acid and copper is separated from arsenic and antimony by passing an ammoniacal solution of the sample through a column of Chelex-100 resin. After digestion with sulphuric acid and reduction to arsenic(III) and antimony(III) with sodium sulphite in 7 M sulphuric acid at 80°C, both arsenic and antimony are deposited at-0.30V and their total is determined by anodic stripping; antimony is then selectively deposited at -0.05 V for anodic stripping. The lower limits of determination are 56 ng As and 28 ng Sb per gram of copper; relative standard deviations (n = 5) are in the ranges 6.1–15.0% for 5.5—0.5 ppm arsenic in copper and 4.1–6.8% for 2.6—0.6 ppm antimony.     

Determination of trace concentrations of antimony by the introduction of stibine into an inductively-coupled plasma for atomic emission spectrometry

A simple, rapid and sensitive method is described for the determination of trace concentrations of antimony by inductively-coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry with hydride generation. Hydrochloric acid (1 M) is the best medium for stibine generation, but antimony(III) is also effectively reduced to stibine in 1 M malic acid or 0.5 M tartaric acid, whereas antimony(V) gives no significant signal in either of these acids. This permits the differential determination of Sb(III) and Sb(V). Most of the inter-element interference effects can be minimized by thiourea, bur standard additions are recommended for accurate determinations. Thiourea is also effective in prereducing Sb(V) to Sb(III). The detection limit is 0.19 ng Sb ml^?1 and the calibration graph is linear up to 100 μg ml^?1. The r.s.d, at 1 and 100 ng Sb ml^?1 are 3.8 and 2.1%, respectively. The method is applied to copper metal and to speciation of antimony in waste water.     

Determination of antimony in ores and related materials by continuous hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometry after separation by xanthate extraction

A continuous hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometric method for determining approximately 0.02 mug/g or more of antimony in ores, concentrates, rocks, soils and sediments is described. The method involves the reduction of antimony(V) to antimony(III) by heating with hypophosphorous acid in a 4.5M hydrochloric acid-tartaric acid medium and its separation by filtration, if necessary, from any elemental arsenic, selenium and tellurium produced during the reduction step. Antimony is subsequently separated from iron, lead, zinc, tin and various other elements by a single cyclohexane extraction of its xanthate complex from approximately 4.5M hydrochloric acid/0.2M sulphuric acid in the presence of ascorbic acid as a reluctant for iron(III). After the extract is washed, if necessary, with 10% hydrochloric acid-2% thiourea solution to remove co-extracted copper, followed by 4.5M hydrochloric acid to remove residual iron and other elements, antimony(III) in the extract is oxidized to antimony(V) with bromine solution in carbon tetrachloride and stripped into dilute sulphuric acid containing tartaric acid. Following the removal of bromine by evaporation of the solution, antimony(V) is reduced to antimony(III) with potassium iodide in approximately 3M hydrochloric acid and finally determined by hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometry at 217.8 nm with sodium borohydride as reluctant. Interference from platinum and palladium, which are partly co-extracted as xanthates under the proposed conditions, is eliminated by complexing them with thiosemicarbazide during the iodide reduction step. Interference from gold is avoided by using a 3M hydrochloric acid medium for the hydride-generation step. Under these conditions gold forms a stable iodide complex.     

Solvent extraction of antimony(v) with ethyl acetate

A method has been derived for the selective extraction of antimony(V) from hydrochloric acid solution with ethyl acetate. The method can be employed for the rapid determination of antimony in antimonates of lead, tin, mercury, nickel and chromium and in type metal. Iron(III), cobalt(II) cadmium(II), and large amounts of copper(II) and tin(II) interfere with the extraction. For the analysis of type metal, tin must be oxidized to the tetravalent state.