Determination of antimony content in natural water by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after collection as antimony(III)-pyrogallol complex on activated carbon.

Antimony(III) was preconcentrated on activated carbon (AC) as the antimony(III)-pyrogallol complex. Prior to the preconcentration, antimony(V) was reduced to antimony(III) with potassium iodide and ascorbic acid. The antimony adsorbed on the AC was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry as an AC suspension. The method was applied to differential determination of trace amounts of antimony in natural water.