Determination of Antimony in Urine by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry after Ion Exchange Separation and Solvent Extraction

Abstract

Trace antimony in urine was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry using a graphite furnace atomizer. The urine was concentrated and digested with HNO₃-HClO₄-H₂SO₄ in a Teflon beaker. The bulk of the salts and interfering elements was removed by cation exchange and the ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate-2-methyl-4- pentanone extraction procedure, and finally the organic phase was analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Results of Sb in the NBS reference material agreed with its certified value. Relative standard deviation were about 8.4% at the 1-μg level. Antimony contents in urine ranged from 0.3 to 1.3μg l-1.