Potentiometric Stripping Analysis at Antimony Film Electrodes

New procedures of potentiometric stripping analysis can be based on the use of antimony film electrodes and antimony(III) salts. In this paper, antimony films are generated onto carbon paste electrodes in situ and after electrolytic preconcentration of the metals to be determined, the excess antimony(III) serves as a chemical oxidant. Moreover in acidic solutions containing halide ions, the oxidation ability of antimony(III) is adequately limited because of formation of its corresponding halide complexes. Compared with similar total substitution of traditionally used mercury(II) by bismuth(III), the use of antimony(III) offers higher sensitivity in detection of heavy metals, namely, cadmium and lead.