The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Some aspects of the aquatic and analytical chemistry of antimony and arsenic

Some aspects of the aquatic and analytical chemistry of antimony and arsenic
Some aspects of the aquatic and analytical chemistry of antimony and arsenic

Hydride generation-AAS methods have been investigated for the measurement of arsenic and antimony. Continuous flow techniques for arsenic and antimony have detected limits of 0.54μg l^-1 and 4μg l-1 respectively, which is insufficiently sensitive for unpolluted waters. Cold trap HG-AAS of arsenic(III), arsenic(V), monomethylarsenic and dimethylarsenic gave detection limits of between 0.07 and 0.1ng, and a precision of between 2.3 and 7.4% r.s.d. Semi-continuous and `batch' hydride AAS techniques employing cryogenic trapping were developed for the determination of low levels of inorganic antimony species. Detection limits were 24ng l-1 (using a 5cm3 sample) in the semi-continuous flow mode, and 17ng l-1 (using a 50cm3 sample;) in the batch mode. Storage experiments indicated that samples for antimony analysis could be stored in borosilicate glass containers for up to 25 days. Water samples from the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, including the TAG hydrothermal field, have been analysed for arsenic species. Arsenic(V) was the only species present. An average concentration of 1.00 ± 0.13μg As l-1 was found in Atlantic Ocean samples, and no depth effects were observed. Depth profiles at two stations in the Indian Ocean showed surface depletion of arsenic. A mean concentration of 0.98 ± 0.1μg As l-1 was found in the surface waters (< 150 metres), which is significantly less than the 1.1 ± 0.15μg As l-1 found at greater depth. The concentration of inorganic antimony at one station in the Indian Ocean ranged from 48ng Sb l-1 to 216ng Sb l-1, no systematic trends with depth were observed. The level of inorganic antimony found in North Sea surface water was 110.6 ± 13ng Sb l^-1. The spatial variation, and concentration of dissolved inorganic antimony in the river Beaulieu and rive Tamar estuaries have been investigated. In the river Beaulieu concentrations ranged from 105ng Sb l^-1 in the river end member to 208ng Sb l^-1 in the high salinity region of the estuary. In the Tamar concentrations of antimony ranged from 24ng l^-1 to 176ng l^-1. Profiles along both estuaries indicated the sea water end member to be the main contributor to the antimony load.

University of Southampton
Campbell, Andrew Thomas
Campbell, Andrew Thomas

Campbell, Andrew Thomas (1991) Some aspects of the aquatic and analytical chemistry of antimony and arsenic. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

Hydride generation-AAS methods have been investigated for the measurement of arsenic and antimony. Continuous flow techniques for arsenic and antimony have detected limits of 0.54μg l^-1 and 4μg l-1 respectively, which is insufficiently sensitive for unpolluted waters. Cold trap HG-AAS of arsenic(III), arsenic(V), monomethylarsenic and dimethylarsenic gave detection limits of between 0.07 and 0.1ng, and a precision of between 2.3 and 7.4% r.s.d. Semi-continuous and `batch' hydride AAS techniques employing cryogenic trapping were developed for the determination of low levels of inorganic antimony species. Detection limits were 24ng l-1 (using a 5cm3 sample) in the semi-continuous flow mode, and 17ng l-1 (using a 50cm3 sample;) in the batch mode. Storage experiments indicated that samples for antimony analysis could be stored in borosilicate glass containers for up to 25 days. Water samples from the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, including the TAG hydrothermal field, have been analysed for arsenic species. Arsenic(V) was the only species present. An average concentration of 1.00 ± 0.13μg As l-1 was found in Atlantic Ocean samples, and no depth effects were observed. Depth profiles at two stations in the Indian Ocean showed surface depletion of arsenic. A mean concentration of 0.98 ± 0.1μg As l-1 was found in the surface waters (< 150 metres), which is significantly less than the 1.1 ± 0.15μg As l-1 found at greater depth. The concentration of inorganic antimony at one station in the Indian Ocean ranged from 48ng Sb l-1 to 216ng Sb l-1, no systematic trends with depth were observed. The level of inorganic antimony found in North Sea surface water was 110.6 ± 13ng Sb l^-1. The spatial variation, and concentration of dissolved inorganic antimony in the river Beaulieu and rive Tamar estuaries have been investigated. In the river Beaulieu concentrations ranged from 105ng Sb l^-1 in the river end member to 208ng Sb l^-1 in the high salinity region of the estuary. In the Tamar concentrations of antimony ranged from 24ng l^-1 to 176ng l^-1. Profiles along both estuaries indicated the sea water end member to be the main contributor to the antimony load.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 1991

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 460932
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/460932
PURE UUID: 23d20e54-84ec-4c5b-8e50-d8a24a5a893c

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 18:32
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 18:32

Export record

Contributors

Author: Andrew Thomas Campbell

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×