USE OF ZEEMAN-CORRECTED GFAAS IN THE STUDY OF DISTRIBUTION AND PATTERN OF ANTIMONY CIRCULATION IN VARIOUS SPRINGS OF LATIUM AND PHLEGREAN FIELDS

Summary Study of distribution and mode of Sb circulation in 44 springwaters in Lazio and 15 springs and wells of Campi Flegrei was performed. It was necessary to design a specific method of extraction-concentration in GFAAS with a Zeeman correction which is sufficiently sensitive and reliable for measurements of low levels of the analyte, generally less than 1 μg L -1 , for the two species Sb 5+ and Sb 3+ present in the waters. Antimony concentration was less than 1 μg L -1 in most samples examined. However, concentrations as high as 200 μg L -1 were found in the geothermic area of Mofete. Speciation studies revealed that the chemical form Sb 5+ was prevalent with respect to Sb 3+ .