Abstract
A selective separation method based on anion exchange cartridge was developed to determine antimony (Sb) speciation in biological matrices by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry (GFAAS). The selectivity of the cartridge towards antimonite [SbIII] and antimonate [SbV] reversed in the presence of deionized (DI) water and 2mM citric acid. While SbV was retained by the cartridge in DI water, SbIII was retained in citric acid media. At pH 6, SbIII and SbV formed SbIII- and SbV-citrate complexes, but the cartridge had higher affinity towards the SbIII-citrate complex. Separation of SbIII was tested at various concentrations in fresh and spent growth media and plant tissues. Our results showed that cartridge-based Sb speciation was successful in plant tissues, which was confirmed by HPLC–ICP-MS. The cartridge retained SbIII and showed 92–104% SbV recovery from arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata roots treated with SbIII and SbV. The cartridge procedure is an effective alternative for Sb speciation, offering low cost, reproducible results, and simple Sb analysis using GFAAS.
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