R. E. Stauffer 1977 <p>A flame atomic absorption procedure utilizing an electrodeless discharge lamp is described for determining total solute antimony in silica-rich geothermal waters. Following NaNO₂ oxidation of Sb⁺³, SbCl₅ is extracted from 6 <i>N</i> HCl solution by using MIBK (methyl isobutyl ketone) ; silica in the organic layer is removed by centrifugation. The analytical detection limit for antimony is about 6 micrograms per liter in the original sample; the coefficient of variation is 4 percent at the 250 <i><span>μ</span></i>g/L Sb level. Comparable total antimony levels were found in sample splits which had been either filtered and acidified (to pH less than 1.5) with HNO₃ or left untreated at the time of sample collection.</p> application/pdf en U.S. Geological Survey Measuring total antimony in geothermal waters by flame atomic absorption spectrometry article