Determination of trace antimony(III) in water by graphite-furnace AAS after preconcentration with 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol and Capriquat loaded silica gel

The separation and preconcentration of trace Sb(III) from water for a graph ite- furnace AAS (GF-AAS) determination was studied using silica gel loaded with 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR) /trioctylmethylammonium chloride (C apriquat). A sample solution of 100 similar to 2000 ml containing Sb(III) w as adjusted to pH 2.5. The solution was then passed through a column packed with 0.5 g of PAR/Capriquat-loaded in silica gel on the column, eluted wit h 10 ml of 0.8 M hydrochloric acid, and then deteminated by GF-AAS. In this method, over 98% of the Sb(III) was adsorbed at about pH 2.5. Ascorbic aci d was used as a masking reagent to remove any interference of Fe(III). The proposed method has been applied to the determination of Sb(III) in seawate r and spring-water samples.