On-line electrochemical preconcentration and electrochemical hydride generation for determination of antimony by high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry.

Trace concentrations of antimony in aquatic samples were determined by high resolution continuum-source atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS AAS) after electrochemical pre-concentration and electrochemical hydride generation. Antimony was electrochemically deposited in a microporous glassy carbon electrode as elemental antimony then was electrochemically converted at the same electrode surface to antimony hydride which was transported by argon gas to the quartz cuvette of the spectrometer. The detection limit and precision of the method are below 0.1 µg L-1 and 3-5%, respectively. The method was employed for the determination of antimony in a CRM and water samples including surface, underground and waste water.