Anodic stripping voltammetry of antimony using gold nanoparticle-modified carbon screen-printed electrodes.

Carbon screen-printed electrodes (CSPE) modified with gold nanoparticles present an interesting alternative in the determination of antimony using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. Metallic gold nanoparticles deposits have been obtained by direct electrochemical deposition. Scanning electron microscopy measurements show that the electrochemically synthesized gold nanoparticles are deposited in aggregated form. Any undue effects caused by the presence of foreign ions in the solution were also analyzed to ensure that common interferents in the determination of antimony by ASV. The detection limit for Sb(III) obtained was 9.44 x 10(-10) M. In terms of reproducibility, the precision of the above mentioned method in %R.S.D. values was calculated at 2.69% (n=10). The method was applied to determine levels of antimony in seawater samples and pharmaceutical preparations.