Abstract

Background: Antimony is a metaloide that offers human health risks. Then, the determination of this chemical element in food samples is always opportune. This paper proposes a method for determination of total antimony in fish muscle tissue using hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HG AAS).

Methods: The optimization of the quantification step was performed using a two-level full factorial design and a Box Behnken matrix, involving the factors: nitric acid concentration, carrier gas flow (argon) and sodium borohydride concentration. The digestion procedure of the samples was established employing microwave assisted radiation using nitric acid.

Results: The method using the optimized conditions allows the determination of total antimony by the external calibration technique with limits of detection and quantification of 0.8 and 2.6 ng g-1 for a sample mass of 0.20 g, and precision expressed as relative standard deviation of 4.32%, for an antimony solution of concentration 5 μg L-1. The accuracy was confirmed by analysis of a certified reference material of oyster tissue furnished by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Conclusion: The method was applied for determination of total antimony in seven samples of fish muscle tissue (Arraia - Brazilian name, Elasmobranquiomorpha rajiformes) acquired in two regions of the Todos os Santos Bay, Bahia, Brazil. The antimony content found varied from 62 to 370 ng g-1. These results are agreeing with other data reported by literature.

Keywords: Antimony, fish muscle, HG AAS, experimental design, todos os santos bay, atomic absorption spectrometry, organic species.

Graphical Abstract