Speciation of antimony(III) and antimony(V) using hydride generation inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry combined with the rate of pre-reduction of antimony

Antimony(III) and antimony(V) were speciated by hydride generation inductiv ely coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (HG-ICP-AES) based on the p re-reduction kinetics of antimony(V) to antimony(III) with L-cysteine. A li near relationship between the reduced amount of antimony(V) with 3 mg ml(-1 ) of L-cysteine and the reaction time was achieved within 10 min. The reduc ed amount of antimony(V) were determined after 2 and 8 min, respectively, b y using HG-ICP-AES in this method. Mutual interferences of antimony(III) an d antimony(V) were investigated. Interferences from transition metals were removed by a Chelex 100 resin column. The method was successfully applied t o speciate antimony(III) and antimony(V) in spiked water samples. The detec tion limits of the method for antimony(III) and antimony(V) were 1.2 and 4. 5 ng ml(-1) respectively. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve d.