title: Antimony speciation by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using solid phase extraction cartridges.
abstract: A novel and simple method for inorganic antimony speciation is described based on selective solid phase extraction (SPE) separation of antimony(III) and highly sensitive inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric (ICP-MS) detection of total antimony and antimony(V) in the aqueous phase of the sample. Non-polar SPE cartridges, such as the Isolute silica-based octyl (C8) sorbent-containing cartridge, selectively retained the Sb(III) complex with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC), while the uncomplexed Sb(V) remained as a free species in the solution and passed through the cartridge. The Sb(III) concentration was calculated as the difference between total antimony and Sb(V) concentrations. The detection limit was 1 ng L(-1) antimony. Factors affecting the separation and detection of antimony species were investigated. Acidification of samples led to partial or complete retention of Sb(V) on C8 cartridge. Foreign ions tending to complex with Sb(III) or APDC did not interfere with the retention behavior of the Sb(III)-APDC complex. This method has been successfully applied to antimony speciation of various types of water samples.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Water Technology, Innovation Centre (NTU), Singapore.
authors.forename: Chunhai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Qiantao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Zhong-Xian
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Zhaoguang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Soo Beng
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Khoo
mesh_terms: D000965:Antimony / Q000032:analysis*; D017022:Flow Injection Analysis; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D000965:Antimony