Determination of Trace Level Antimony(III) After Preconcentration Process by Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Using Digital Imaging Based Colorimetric Analysis Method

In this study, a method for the colorimetric determination of antimony(III) was developed using a uniquely designed digital imaging box after the samples to be analyzed were preconcentrated with liquid-liquid microextraction. In the preconcentration phase, dithizone was used as a ligand in order to form a complex with the antimony in the sample. Colourful samples obtained after preconcentration were placed in a digital imaging box and colorimetric analysis was performed using an application that can be downloaded to smartphones. Before starting the analyzes, optimization studies were carried out for the distance of the quartz cuvette placed in the digital imaging box to the lens, the location of the point where the colorimetric determination will be made on the quartz cuvette, and the radius of the point to be analyzed. As a result of the analysis of antimony samples with different concentrations under optimum conditions, a linear region in the range of 1-4 mg/L was obtained and the limit of detection (LOD) for antimony was calculated as 0.71 mg/L. In the study, the percent relative standard deviation for the lowest concentration was 0.33% (n=8). This value indicates that the analysis has high sensitivity.