Determination of antimony in urine by candoluminescence spectrometry

Abstract

The candoluminescence emission intensities produced by antimony solutions applied to CaO-CaSO₄ matrices have been compared using two techniques, a matrix contained in the cavity of the head of an Allen screw and a rod of the matrix material. The optimum gas flow-rates differ slightly in the two techniques as do the matrix conditions, i.e., the burner head to matrix distance and the horizontal distance into the flame.

The rod technique has the advantage that larger samples of organic solvents, i.e., from a solvent extraction stage, may be applied to the matrix and this procedure provides a simple and reliable routine method for the determination of antimony in urine over the range 10–70 µg l^–1. The results are compared with those obtained elsewhere using atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomisation.