Determination of antimony in brass by on-line hydride generation fluorescence spectrometry in alkaline solution

Antimony was determined in alloy copper by on-line hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry in an alkaline solution. Samples were dissolved with nitric acid. In order to eliminate serious chemical interferences caused by transition metals, the solution was then made alkaline with sodium hydroxide. Conditions for hydride generation in alkaline medium and parameters of the flow injection system were optimized. Compared with the traditional procedure for hydride generation, the proposed procedure is simple and effective. The method was used successfully for the determination of antimony in standard brass samples. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 12:114–117, 2000