Determination of Antimony in Soil Samples by Flow-Through Stripping Chronopotentiometry with a Microporous Mercury-Film Electrode

Antimony in soil samples using flow-through stripping chronopotentiometry with a microporous mercury film electrode is determined. The soil samples namely, Cambisols and Orthic Luvisols are obtained from the monitoring localities in Slovakia and Geological Institute of UK Bratislava, Slovakia from a depth of 50-100 cm. The samples are detected by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) are found to be 0.6 mu dm super(-3) and 1.7 mu g dm super(-3), respectively. The efficiency of the deposition of antimony on electrode depends on the deposition potential. The highest recoveries are observed in the region of -900 to -1100 mV and deposition efficiency increases with increase in the concentration of hydrochloric acid (HCl). A linear response is observed in the concentration range of 1 to 200 mu g dm super(-3).