Fructose-6-phosphate kinase immobilized on controlled-pore glass as a substrate for selective separation of antimony(III)

Abstract

Fructose-6-phosphate kinase immobilized on controlled-pore glass and packed in a glass microcolumn was used for the selective separation and preconcentration of Sb^III. Results obtained for mixtures of trivalent and pentavalent antimony showed that Sb^III can be selectively separated from Sb^V after retention by the enzyme and elution with a 3% V/V lactic acid solution. After the elution step Sb^III was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. An enrichment factor of 5 was achieved. Recovery studies of Sb^III in de-ionized, tap and sea-water gave values of around 75 ± 5% without any need to control the pH or temperature. The immobilized enzyme retains its activity for at least 200 elution cycles.