Direct Speciation Analysis of Sb(III) and Sb(V) Based on Their Different Sensitivities for GFAAS

ABSTRACT This paper presents a temptative work dealing with the possibilities of using GFAAS on speciation analysis purposes of antimony species—namely, Sb(III) and Sb(V)—in presence of three different complexing reagents (DDC, APDC and TTA). When using TTA, both antimony species can be analyzed setting 800 and 1700 to 1800°C as pyrolysis and atomization temperatures, respectively. However, the great differences detected between the values of the signals recorded for Sb(V) and for Sb(III) must be highlighted. Such differences suggest dissimilar sensitivities for both species, that are applied on speciation analysis purposes.